Should the Air Corps get interceptor Jets?

[FiannaFail]

It would be interested in seeing how members feel about this question presently.  On the old website some members felt very strongly that we should not have jets. I wonder how people feel now?
FiannaFail '>

[Silver]

.......and now might be the best time to send some letters to the newspapers, pushing the case for more/better equipment for the AC !!!
- what with all the recent articles about the AC loss of SAR - it means the AC is in the public's eye for a change !

  
(And a letter/email to Mr.Cooper wouldn't do any harm either!)

[alpha foxtrot 07]

i say no. the reason is pure cost and publis opinion. its very expensive to buy operate a squadron of fighters. yes you can  buy 5 or 6 jets but thats pointless as you will have 2 to 3 up at an one time. but maintaining the aircraft is the cheap side if things. it costs the US air force 1 million to train 1 pilot and then you spend about 100,000 a year keeping that pilot ready to fight. now times that by 12 for the amount of pilots to fill a squadron. the cost per year would just be to much, now try and sell to a public who want more hospitals better roads ect. it just wouldn't fly in our so called neutral country.

[Flyboy]

I hate to pour cold water on this talk of jets etc, but the Irish Government will never spend money on fast jets. While the roads are still like something from the 3rd world and the population of the country is smaller than most countries capital cities how can there be any justification for spending large amounts of money on fast jets that will simply be used for a few training sorties, but will never be used "in anger".

[Silver]

I'm inclined to agree with alpha, the cost would be difficult to justify at this point in time.

However, having said that, I think we should maintain a small number of jets in the L-159/Hawk class.
Then, at least a pool of fast jet pilots would be maintained within the Corps - and could transfer to F16 class jets in a shorter period, if needs be.    


Look at it this way, we were able to operate c.6 x trainer-type jets throughout the 50's/60's/70's/80's and 90's - so why can't we do it now when the country has NEVER been so well-off '>!!!.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

we know thats what i said, but your not ever going to get something unless you ask for it.

[Turkey]

I think it would be very desirable to have F-16's, new build, none of this pussyfooting about with upgrades of the old junk in AMARC, which would probally work out more in the long run, and yes, they are not too cheap to run, but the eventual costs of not having them could be higher.
It has been said on another tread that the people would not let the government get F-16's,this does appear to be true, taken en-mass the Irish do not seem very clever, this is true of other nations too and is not ment to be an insult....honest!!
But there are a lot of things that we do not want get forced down our necks, e.g; 166 a$$holes in the dail, the spike,the Nac, mcgreedys horsey friends meeting place, toll bridges, I do not think it would be hard to stick in a few F-16's amongst that lot!!!
Failing F-16's, while it is still the best light fighter around, is quite big and bordering on the full strike class occupied by the F-15/ F-22 ect, the F/A/T-50 might be far more suitable, but yarns have it that it's initial export production is already ear-marked for a middle-east country, i.e. we would not want to hold our breath!

[FiannaFail]

Very interesting coments everyone - I am happy that most members would like to see us having interceptor jets at some stage in the future!!  At times I felt we were in a tiny minority.  Wheres guinness gone? I would love to hear his comments as a foreigner on this subject.
FiannaFail :'>

[Silver]

Turkey,
Good point about other things being 'forced down our necks' !!

[sealion]

Was listening to Matt Cooper complaining on today FM earlier about the new anti tank missiles,with the sneery remark that "its not like we would have to repel hoards of tanks crossing the border.."
What he says only reflects public opinion. Imagine the response to fighters?

[Silver]

Very true, sealion !
The public hardly know that the AC exists, let alone about the need for air defence aircraft   '>

Matt Coopers comments do indeed reflect the views of a lot of people.

However, the DF's don't do themselves any favours with their lack of PR  '>

[tashkurgan]

Re: Interceptors, no real need right now.. Purchase a mix of Hawk 100 & 200s and get some GCI practice.

Re: Was listening to Matt Cooper complaining on today FM earlier about the new anti tank missiles,with the sneery remark that "its not like we would have to repel hoards of tanks crossing the border.."
What he says only reflects public opinion. Imagine the response to fighters?

Now thats pretty disappointing coming from someone that I had a bit of respect for. Its going to be an uphill struggle to convince the general public that we need to re-equip the AC for a role in the 21st Century - I can't think of a politican that has the stomach for it unfortunately.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

its all about the money, a ignorant public will never go for it, education is the only key.

[FiannaFail]

Yes I agree with Silver. During the 1950s, 60s ,70s,80s and 90s we had jets.  This is when we were a much poorer country, with no infrastructure to talk about.  In the late '60s and early '70's the population of the Republic was 2.9 million.  Now it is 4 million.  We have moved from a net receipent of EU funds to a contributor nation.  Anyway I would strongly object if all state expenditure was spent on health (more money paid in the morse the service!) or on housing, or on education etc.  Defence expenditure is an important item fo an independent nation to use!!
FiannaFail

[Imshi-Yallah]

Honduras popn 5.8m, GNP per capita US$600

Air Force:
11x F-5E/F
13x A-37B
4x C101B
10x EMB 312
6x T-41D
2x C-130A
1x C-130D
6x C-47
1x IAI 201 (Arava STOL transport)
1x L-188A
1x Westwind
1x PA-42
1x PA-31
1x Cessna 401
1x Commander 1000
1x Cessna 310
2x Cessna 182
6x Cessna 185
4x UH-1H
9x Bell 412EP
2x MD500D
3x TH-55
1x A-109

0x excuses