Bring Avro Cadet 'C7' back to Baldonnel campaign!

[FMolloy]

Are these jets the same ones you've been promising us for the last couple of years?  '>

And it's yet to be proven that emailing Willie has made a difference.

[Fouga]

Got this reply from them today......

Dear Mr. McGrath,

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your recent e-mail, the contents of which have
been duly noted.

Yours sincerely,


COLM HENRY
PRIVATE SECRETARY
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE


---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "david mc grath"
Date:  Tue, 01 Mar 2005 21:21:03 +0000

>Dear Sir i am writing to see if it is possible to bring back to Baldonnel
>(EIME) Avro Cadet 'C7' . I think it should be back with the Air Corps where
>it belongs as it is the most historic Irish Air Corps aircraft in existence.

[Silver]

Good work fouga !!

If more people send emails/letters it may just be enough to get them thinking about the subject ........... then maybe they will 'see sense' and bring C7 back to it's true home !

[Fouga]

i was very surprised that i even got a reply!

[RMR]

Fouga,
          i got exactly the same reply today!!!

[John K]

Me too!

[Guinness]

same here last thursday.

Guinness

[Fouga]

time to get a few new email addresses ha ha

[202]

Just a few questions ... who would maintain the aircraft? fly it? accommodate it? and what ongoing running costs would be involved. Would these costs involve a diversion of resources from current requirements?

[Fouga]

maintain it and fly it? the air corps id imagine if it is to stay at bal.

[sealion]

Now I am not knocking the idea,but is it not strange that we are reaching a situation where there are more museum aircraft than active aircraft?
Reluctant as I am to agree with FF,would our energies be not better used emailing the Minister to seek a proper effective air wing for the defence forces instead of the current lipservice that the Air Corps provides?
Is this the way of the new wishlist? Instead of looking for new fighters,we are seeking the return of old ones?

[Tony Kearns]

202,
I am of the opinion that if we were so lucky as to acquire the Cadet it would go to the Collins Barracks Museum in Dublin with the Miles Magister, Vampire, the Wright replica and possibly an AlouetteIII. I hope the campaign is successful and to say that other sources which I cannot say at the moment are also working to save the Cadet.
Tony K

[202]

APK, thank you,  my question arose because I understood the suggestion which raised this topic was on the basis that the aircraft would be repatriated for flying exhibition.

Of course, if it went for static display then the resource questions would not arise (apart of course from the initial purchase and shipping costs) and, debatably, it would be seen up close by far more people.

Without doubt it would be a wonderful addition to our scarce Defence Forces and aviation heritage inventory. However the cost of purchase is an issue; difficult to justify the diversion of funds that could be used for contemporary equipment.  Of course if some leading player in the private aviation sector in Ireland were to step in and make a (presumably tax deductible) sponsorship available then it could be a win-win outcome for all.

[Fouga]

do you really think it would cost that much 202? one wonders who could set up an aircorps fund like the one the RAF have ? it's partly civvy and military people involved there i think alot of the money comes from donations from the public at airshows and the like ?

[Silver]

Quote (202 @ 15 Mar. 2005,01:15)

Just a few questions ... who would maintain the aircraft? fly it? accommodate it? and what ongoing running costs would be involved. Would these costs involve a diversion of resources from current requirements?

The Air Corps have already tried (in vain, thanks to the meddling of  the dept of finance!) to purchase C7, so they must have already had a plan worked out of where to accomodate it (in the museum ?), who would fly it (e.g. I believe the GOC is certified to fly a 'taildragger') and who would maintain it (Air Corps techies and museum crew?).

As for taking resources from elsewhere, how much time and effort can it take to maintain a fully restored aircraft that will only see occassional flying time ?........... very little I would suspect.