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Helicopters, how many??

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  • Helicopters, how many??

    Just to get away from fighters for a while, before I throw up!!
    It looks like the Irish Air Corps is going to get troop transports, at long last.
    So, I got a question, well several questions really:
    1] How many bodies, minimum, is the desired amount to land in the LZ,[hot or cold] in the initial phase?
    2] How many for follow up waves?
    3] Now , how many helicopters of different types[including spares] to make this happen?
    4] Finally, what about heavy wepons support and Casevac[spellin?]?
    "We will hold out until our last bullet is spent. Could do with some whiskey"
    Radio transmission, siege of Jadotville DR Congo. September 1961.
    Illegitimi non carborundum

  • #2
    What kind of planes they getting?
    "Everyone's for a free Tibet, but no one's for freeing Tibet." -Mark Steyn. What an IMO-centric quote, eh?

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    • #3
      Turkey, do you know something the rest of us don't (or maybe I'm the only one that doesn't know)?

      IAS

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      • #4
        I reckon I should have put the word 'helicopter' in the second line of the opening post.
        IAS, I have only heard a couple of strong rumours, from different sources, both known, in the past, to be realible, concerning a possable Blackhawk lease/purchase offer which has generated some considerable intrest withen the IAC.
        "We will hold out until our last bullet is spent. Could do with some whiskey"
        Radio transmission, siege of Jadotville DR Congo. September 1961.
        Illegitimi non carborundum

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        • #5
          Historically, Ireland has tried to steer clear of Defence Contracts with the US and it has adopted a generally European line on Defence contracts so it is interesting to hear that a Blackhawk is being considered. Of course Blackhawks aren't known as such in their export form so I wonder could we give them a name like a Greenhawk!!!...but seriously I thought the contract would go to Eurocopter (Cougar EC 725). When the AC goes to get replacements for the Alouettes and Gazelles, wouldn't Eurocopter be the only place they could go (EC 635 etc.). So would a medium lift aircraft from Eurocopter in conjunction with an order for the new smaller choppers not make financial sense. Also replace the 5 Dauphins with 1/2 Panthers in naval configuration to give the NS via the LE Eithne a limited SAR Role???
          Personally I would opt for Eurocopter versus Sikorsky because if you think about it, The GASU use them also and the AC has had a good history with them.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Harry
            Of course Blackhawks aren't known as such in their export form so I wonder could we give them a name like a Greenhawk!!!...
            The Mk. 1 Shitehawk...

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            • #7
              Enough to lift a company in one wave (ie 3/4 medium lift helicopters)

              The minimum possible number of types of aircraft should be purchased, become a jack of all trades, taking account of economies of scale in purchase of aircraft and spares, don't need to buy more simulators etc, easy of training, easy of rostering

              My answer:
              Replace Gazelle and Alouette with a small number of lighter helicopters (3/4) for training, ATCP, escorts, surveillance, CASEVAC, using either of Garda helicopters as baises of decision

              Replace Dauphins with a number of medium lift helicopters (5-12) for SAR, troop transport etc

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              • #8
                Brian,
                Where have you been.The Air corp will be out of SAR in the near future, and according to the minister of defence that decision will not be revisited.The proposed tender if for light utility heli's,the Blackhawk is classed as a medium lift heli.

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                • #9
                  blackhawk is classed as a utility heli with the US army but then thats the US army.

                  There is still the requirement for the 2 medium lift helis for the army. Smith hasnt cancelled that (YET). The best option has to be for a single airframe. 8-10 blackhawks would serve Ireland well for decades and provide back up SAR etc etc

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                  • #10
                    You're right Vmax, but that is a sore subject

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                    • #11
                      Yes we should strongly consider Black hawks 8-10 would be ideal 10-14 would be even better.
                      What training helicopter would the Government buy would they retain the Gazelle?

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                      • #12
                        If these helicopters were to be deployed operationally aborad, what would they use for close defence / LZ suppression?
                        Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

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                        • #13
                          if they got 10 Black hawks it really would be a boost for the DF. Its totally unrealistic to expect to see any more than that! Personally I can imagine the likes of the squirrel coming into the picture as a replacement :(

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                          • #14
                            Oddly enough,the MIL helicopters have been used by irish forces in a number of overseas missions lately. Could the Mil Mi8 or Mi 17 be considered?


                            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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                            • #15
                              The poles manage to operate with coalition forces just fine in Iraq so I'd imagine there should be no real problem with regard to interoperability.Spare parts and such shouldnt be that hard to get from ex sov bloc countries.
                              When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow.
                              All them women gonna make me, teach 'em what they don't know how

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