The Tall Ships race

[Frank]

The Australian display team use prop aircraft, what's wrong with that?

It's not the Air Corps' fault that they have no jets, the fact they have no jets does not mean that they should not show off what they have and what they can do with it.


Regards,

Frank.

[Imshi-Yallah]

But the Australian display team are just that, a display team, not the sum total of armed aircraft in the inventory.
Dedicating the IACs limited resources to a display team would be like spending 25% of Dublin Fire Brigade's budget on the band.
It may be a nice PR piece for those that can really afford it but we can't, if someone asks about what aircraft the RAAF have they can be told that they have a real air force.

I never suggested that the IACs equipment state was the IACs fault, nor infact did I criticise the IAC in any form.
What I am sick and tired of is people putting forward their personal wants as being the IACs needs.
Using such a significant portion of the IACs resources towards public appearances that will most likely backfire as people realise the quaint fact that 8 trainers are the sum total of what an IAC fixed wing pilot can expect.
The only people who will actually get good odds on benefittiong are aircraft enthusiasts.

[Frank]

Ishmi,

As far as I know the Air Corps will not be forming a display team any time soon, but that is not stopping them putting up a 4 ship formation for a few flypasts, I agree some people want more than what the Air Corps can provide but at the same time do you not think it would be nice to have a flypast?

As for recruiting people, I saw a 3 ship Fouga formation flypast back in 1985, before that I never knew the Air Corps existed, when I found out more and discovered that they only had 6 jets in total it didn't put me off trying to join, I applied a few times but wasn't successful, so I turned my attention to aviation photography and haven't looked back.

If it wasn't for those 3 jets (half our fleet) back in 1985 I wouldn't be having this conversation with you now because this website would not exist!

As far as I'm concerned everything helps.


Regards,

Frank.

[bucks]

Quote (Imshi-Yallah @ 25 Jan. 2005,07:34)

So people will see the air corps have prop planes and want to join up? Id call it a waste of time and effort

Just because we mainly only have prop planes doesnt mean that the youth of the country will not want to take an interest in our defence forces. The main reason people will join is because they will get the chance to serve there country and that is something any Irish person should be proud of regardless of our defence assets.

As Frank said, many of the people in this country dont even know off the Air Corp, and its not going to cost the state a fortune to incorporate a fly past into one of the regular training excercies that the Air Corp operate.

[Imshi-Yallah]

They should be known as a military force or force component, the Fougas have achieved what exactly, the continuation of display teams with no improvement in operational capability.

[Frank]

Ishmi,

I'm not getting dragged into this anymore, I'm sorry I let it get this far in the first place, after all it is a thread about the Tall Ships Race.

It doesn't matter what I say, you'll always have a comeback, but I'm sticking to what I said about the Fouga's, all I saw was a flypast, not a display team, if the PC-9's did the same thing it could influence a few people like it did with me 20(!) years ago.

Just because we don't have a fully fledged air force doesn't mean we should be embarassed and keep our heads down while tippy toeing around.


Regards,

Frank.

[clan]

When the Salthill airshow was small at the beginning, the Silver Swallows came down and blew everyone way, young and Old. They showed what we could do with with what little we had and they did a damn good job. And as a consequence over one hundred thousand people now attend every year. That is interest created by the likes of a small display by four Fouga's. The display at the Rose of Tralee this year was well received, a simple Fly past at the tall ships race is a PR excercise which would do more for the DF then running a full page advert in the independent everyday for a year.
Someone only made a suggestion, if they Air corp can afford it, and it is not affecting operational duties then why not.

[Flyboy]

I have e-mailed the organisers of The Tall Ships Race and received this reply.

"Many thanks for your interest Tony, yes we have asked the Air Corps to do a flypast on July 6th to mark the opening of the event in the afternoon. It has yet to be confirmed but we would be very hopeful."

[Flyboy]

I have also just received this from them  

"The official opening is taking place in City Hall at 3pm, therefore the flypast will be sometime after this."

My Aer Arran flight lands at Waterford at 14:25, it would be cracking if they were at Waterford airport prior to the flypast !!!

[Fouga]

Now Flyboy dont forget the board and in the words of the 555th USAF at Aviano AB "Return With Honor" and bring back some piccies old boy!
 '>

Clan thanks for those word about the Airshow! '>

The best display part of the Fouga's routine was the bomb blast or bomb something ya know when they cam towards the crowd and broke. ah yae it's called bomb burst? i think. ah the memories!

anyhow hope to see yall at Salthill 05!

[Fouga]

Quote (Frank @ 25 Jan. 2005,22:21)

Just because we don't have a fully fledged air force doesn't mean we should be embarassed and keep our heads down while tippy toeing around.

Franks right there ya know many other countries have damn all including modern ones like our situation ( Nz have the RAAF to watch and cover their asses)

[FMolloy]

Quote (bucks @ 25 Jan. 2005,06:36)

In case you havent noticed there is currently a recruitment drive in process for the Air Corp. A flypast would act as good PR and also to let potential recruits see the type of new aircraft the Air Corps operate, just like the Blue Angels do in the US, as there main role is to try an influence young people into wanting to join the US Navy.

Are you referring to the Air Corp cadetships?

The low number of places available means that there is no shortage of competition amongst candidates & no real need for such PR to promote it.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Especially not when flying hours could be spent training for  a thing that often gets in the way of successful airshows...WAR

[bucks]

WAR !!

Ive heard it all now. This is the Irish Air Corp we are talking about, what makes you think we will ever be going to war, especially with PC-9's.

Imshi how long do you think it takes to do a fly past ?

You would swear that people here were suggesting that the corp should be flying at airshows every week, all the topic is about is a quick fly past.

This is the last comment i have on this topic.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Just as well because they've all been pretty poor.

WAR...what the military trains for, not your entertainment or wish fulfillment, Turboprops have a use, a flypast doesnt take very long but planning admin'ing, resourcing and rehearsing it does.

Turboprops are being used as we speak by countries with fast jet forces, in combat operations alongside helicopter assets and fixed wing transports because they are a superior platform for many tasks.

If the Irish air Corps will never go to war then why maintain it?