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  • Light Helicopter Operations

    The discussion over appropriate CASEVAC, facilities for the Liberian deployment got me thinking about the possible values of a renewed light helicopter fleet (although in terms of UNMILs casevac requirements Im not sure why a pair of AIIIs wouldnt be considered to support the IRCON, presuming they wont actually be recovering personell from a battlefield).
    Although I fully subscribe to the belief that MLHs are the best possible investment for the IAC at present, there is a certain attraction to something like a 12 strong fleet of Twin Squirrel/Fennec to provide for both on island peacetime roles and expeditionary support from the Fennec in the LOH, CASEVAC, SOA and Armed Escort roles.

    While Light helicopters are far from the ideal platform for any of the latter military roles (the exception being presumably LOH), they do offer a low cost platform with which to gain experience of such operations and a means of advertising and endearing the need for military aviation services to the public.

    Even on a smaller scale the acquisition of the reccomended 8 ship Light Helicopter fleet could be made considerably more flexible if half the Airframes were military standard Fennec types with hardpoints and all weather instrumentation.

    Now who wants to get started on leasing 212s for MLH TT experience:D
    "It is a general popular error to imagine that loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for it's welfare" Edmund Burke

  • #2
    Now who wants to get started on leasing 212s for MLH TT experience

    Me! I'll do it!

    C-Q, the decision was taken at the time of the White Paper not to deploy the NS or Air Corps abroad on military operations (or at least continued on from the previous time anyone decided to not take a policy decision on defence matters).

    However, since theres a Naval Vessel going to Liberia, there seems to be no legislative bar on doing so, so I presume the reasons are financial and practical. Who knows, might happen yet, but would you really like to be depending on 40 year old helicopters?

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    • #3
      Aidan, if they were 40 year old A111's I would not have much of a problem, but, for some reason Dauphins[IAC version, even new ones,] would worry me.
      "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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      • #4
        Yeah, point taken.

        At least the AIIIs will work, even if the performance is, well, limited.

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        • #5
          We don't need to deploy the whole DF to Liberia. The Italians provided helicopter support in Lebanon so some other contingent (hopefully not from Africa) will be tasked with the job. That said we need a decent helicopter fleet.
          sigpic
          Say NO to violence against Women

          Originally posted by hedgehog
          My favourite moment was when the
          Originally posted by hedgehog
          red headed old dear got a smack on her ginger head

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          • #6
            It'd hardly tip the scales on manpower to send an Extra 20 or 30 Personnel to Liberia.
            Besides the point is for the IAC to get experience of actually doing its job overseas its not like asking them to undertake combat operations (I hope).
            AFAIK there are fk all Western Aviation assets in the area other than the two Dutch Lynxes which are sea based and tasked with other duties.
            "It is a general popular error to imagine that loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for it's welfare" Edmund Burke

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            • #7
              It's all about money C Q. Who pays for the choppers?
              sigpic
              Say NO to violence against Women

              Originally posted by hedgehog
              My favourite moment was when the
              Originally posted by hedgehog
              red headed old dear got a smack on her ginger head

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              • #8
                What ever taxpayer who manages to get his money transferred from the luxury chocolates budget...
                Theres no way that we should be building eyesores on O'Connel st and event centres when we cant fulfill basic moral and political functions as a state.
                "It is a general popular error to imagine that loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for it's welfare" Edmund Burke

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                • #9
                  Spike

                  The Spike on O Connell St is a beatiful monument, for a relatively low cost. Anyway the money was probably partly funded, just like the artistic creations now seen on most new national roads. This money can't be spent on anything else anyway.
                  There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today Chatfield
                  Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty GCB OM GCVO

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                  • #10
                    The Spike on O Connell St is a beatiful monument, for a relatively low cost. Anyway the money was probably partly funded, just like the artistic creations now seen on most new national roads. This money can't be spent on anything else anyway.

                    The Spike like most of the "artistic" creations on our roads is an expensive, meaningless eyesore. And money not wasted on "artistic" creations could be properly spent on education, health or anything else useful.
                    sigpic
                    Say NO to violence against Women

                    Originally posted by hedgehog
                    My favourite moment was when the
                    Originally posted by hedgehog
                    red headed old dear got a smack on her ginger head

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thats just the point Groundhog this money can't be spent on hospitals schools or other capital expenditure. The money for these roads come from EU structural and cohesion funds. The stipulation is that something like 5% of the money is spent on art. Some of the structures on the roadside are actually very good, but I do agree its a stupid rule. Its a case of the piper calling the tune.
                      There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today Chatfield
                      Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty GCB OM GCVO

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                      • #12
                        I'd like Sile De Valera or her succesor to enlighten me as to how roadside scultures are going to improve anyones' quality of life.
                        "It is a general popular error to imagine that loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for it's welfare" Edmund Burke

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                        • #13
                          I'd like Sile De Valera or her succesor to enlighten me as to how roadside scultures are going to improve anyones' quality of life.
                          I'm sure the artists did well out of them.

                          Let's stick to the topic.
                          "The dolphins were monkeys that didn't like the land, walked back to the water, went back from the sand."

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                          • #14
                            Ok back to my point,
                            A fleet of light military helicopters would:
                            (a) Allow the IAC to resume a number of military functions
                            (b) Allow some organic aviation in O/seas deployments and therefore give operating experience.
                            (c) be affordable enough to purchase and deliver in the next five years therefore halting the morale slide in the IAC.
                            "It is a general popular error to imagine that loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for it's welfare" Edmund Burke

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                            • #15
                              The problem is that if light helicopters were indeed purchased to provide "operating experience" that would be the end of things. Forever.

                              Every speech the minister made for the next 10 years would trumpet the new helicopter "fleet" side-stepping the fact that they'd be entirely unsuitable for the role.

                              Helicopters in the Bell 212 class would be an entirely different matter as an interim solution, being both of a reasonable size, and cheap (relatively speaking) to acquire.

                              Interestingly when the Dauphin was chosen, the other main contender seemingly was the AB212.

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