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I'd disagree on the Alouettes; most of the Alouettes still in service are operated by militaries or State agencies or are in some kind of public service. They have always cost too much to run compared to American Helis, which is why the world is dotted with Bells and their spinoffs. New spares for them cost lotto money and the Don was tied into buying from Aerospatiale and specifically disallowed from buying Indian or Rumanian spares, to the point of legal action. It would be like keeping a Boeing 737-200 on the go......the ships, as Murph has correctly pointed out, are effectively wearing out just standing still. just like a parked aircraft, they require a great deal of attention when they are doing nothing, even tied to the quay wall.....In real terms, Mowags and the other modern vehicles in the DF are as demanding of attention as any modern aircraft and are less tolerant of neglect. At least, in the AMLs and M3s favour, it can be said that they took a lot of abuse and kept going, because they were as simple as an Alouette or a Landrover. I suspect that the DF didn't really grasp the level of maintenance that Mowags would demand. In Lingus, we keep our reliability in the high 90s because we have 24/7/365 maintenance, Airbus reps on hand, spares on AOG (24 hr delivery) and permanent access to whatever Airbus can do for us, as well as a hell of a lot of experienced people. We also can hire in aircraft if we have to, unlike the DF, who would let a Mowag rot before they'd lease a spare.
"He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
"No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."
Morph, weren't you told to put your toys away when you were finished playing, not leave 'em lying around on the mud?
"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
le SAMUEL BECKETT is due to sail to complete her trials on Monday morning at 0530 hrs. She is due to return two days later, and then to sail to her owners in Ireland.
Attached 3 photos of P61 returning from round 1 of Sea Trials.
Photos courtesy of Norman Hardaker
L.E. SAMUEL BECKETT is due to sail to complete her trials on Monday morning at 0530 hrs. She is due to return two days later, and then to sail to her owners in Ireland.
I'd disagree on the Alouettes; most of the Alouettes still in service are operated by militaries or State agencies or are in some kind of public service. They have always cost too much to run compared to American Helis, which is why the world is dotted with Bells and their spinoffs. New spares for them cost lotto money and the Don was tied into buying from Aerospatiale and specifically disallowed from buying Indian or Rumanian spares, to the point of legal action.
I know for a fact that other forces that still have the alouette are really struggling to keep them going and supplies of spares are increasingly hard to comeby. Eurocoper know this and are bending customers over a barrel and going in dry.
"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
18-04-14 Taken with a Canon 60D using a Tamron SP AF70-300mm VC USD Zoom Lens
"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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