Pilatus PC-9M

[meridian]

Air Firing at the moment. Gormanstown last week, the Glen this week

https://mobile.twitter.com/IrishAirCorps/status/1387491847145132034

[Tempest]

Is this a first time for actual firing in the Glen?

[DeV]

Is this a first time for actual firing in the Glen?

No doesn’t happen often though

[meridian]

A link to a previous thread discussing air firing in the Glen of Immal

https://forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/forum/defence-forces/air-corps/25893-pc9-air-to-ground-gunnery-query

Plus a video of such an expedition (with guns only)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLa_4ZMuc9k

[Jaque'ammer]

https://twitter.com/GOCAirCorps/status/1420455269964947460

Sec Gen took a trip in one of the PC9's today

[Sparky42]

https://twitter.com/GOCAirCorps/stat...55269964947460

Sec Gen took a trip in one of the PC9's today

Well she’s making more of an effort than her predecessor but we’ll have to see if anything that comes from it…

[meridian]

Good article in Nov - Dec 2021 An Cosantoir about PC-9M operations in Air Corps service, including training syllabus. Also includes a short interview with a Pilatus rep at the end of it

* http://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/143...-issue-2021/0?

[na grohmiti]

Key Phrase in the article:

In the broader picture however, the PC-9M was never built to be a combat aircraft. It was designed to be a truly 21st century training aircraft and it excels in its role in every aspect.

[GoneToTheCanner]

The author of that piece also flies microlights, as far as I am aware.

[Rhodes]

Key Phrase in the article:

It's only in the deluded minds of some people on this forum that it's a combat aircraft because they see that it can be armed rather than its primary role as a pilot training aircraft.

[GoneToTheCanner]

That's why Pilatus didnt bother arming the PC 21 or even offering to arm it. There's no need for air arms with modern fighters to train their pilots to fire as much as a water pistol before they qualify to fly fighters. They can do all the shooting of anything they like on simulators and it saves a mint of money. Well, except on the cost of sims, sim techs, buildings, etc. But even then, cheaper than two trainer types and rockets and machine guns. Only poor nations actually want and use armed PC-7s/9s/Tucanos/add name of turbo or small jet here. The PC-9 as a weapons system in Ireland is essentially tokenism. When the guy who writes the article touts having a smoke system for ceremonial purposes, as a noteworthy feature of the aircraft, then you know it's a waste of space. A SAM system (for point defence) and well trained ARW and Intelligence assets are probably more relevant for our domestic needs.

[DeV]

It's only in the deluded minds of some people on this forum that it's a combat aircraft because they see that it can be armed rather than its primary role as a pilot training aircraft.

And DoD and Government

[DeV]

That's why Pilatus didnt bother arming the PC 21 or even offering to arm it. There's no need for air arms with modern fighters to train their pilots to fire as much as a water pistol before they qualify to fly fighters. They can do all the shooting of anything they like on simulators and it saves a mint of money. Well, except on the cost of sims, sim techs, buildings, etc. But even then, cheaper than two trainer types and rockets and machine guns. Only poor nations actually want and use armed PC-7s/9s/Tucanos/add name of turbo or small jet here. The PC-9 as a weapons system in Ireland is essentially tokenism. When the guy who writes the article touts having a smoke system for ceremonial purposes, as a noteworthy feature of the aircraft, then you know it's a waste of space. A SAM system (for point defence) and well trained ARW and Intelligence assets are probably more relevant for our domestic needs.

The USAF are currently in the market for a light attack aircraft. Most likely a turboprop.

Some kind of air policing capable is this required, even for high profile conferences (eg EU). A SAM can’t intercept, identify, fire warning shots

[na grohmiti]

That's why Pilatus didnt bother arming the PC 21 or even offering to arm it. There's no need for air arms with modern fighters to train their pilots to fire as much as a water pistol before they qualify to fly fighters. They can do all the shooting of anything they like on simulators and it saves a mint of money. Well, except on the cost of sims, sim techs, buildings, etc. But even then, cheaper than two trainer types and rockets and machine guns. Only poor nations actually want and use armed PC-7s/9s/Tucanos/add name of turbo or small jet here. The PC-9 as a weapons system in Ireland is essentially tokenism. When the guy who writes the article touts having a smoke system for ceremonial purposes, as a noteworthy feature of the aircraft, then you know it's a waste of space. A SAM system (for point defence) and well trained ARW and Intelligence assets are probably more relevant for our domestic needs.

I believe the new T7 Redhawk Advanced trainer coming into use in the US has not been designed to use or carry weapons of any sort.

[Sparky42]

It's only in the deluded minds of some people on this forum that it's a combat aircraft because they see that it can be armed rather than its primary role as a pilot training aircraft.

Is there anyone on this forum that thinks its a combat aircraft?