Pilatus PC-12 NG

[DeV]

€32m plus VAT for the 3 aircraft..... they are getting a good ISTAR package considering the airframe retails about €4m

[na grohmiti]

Interesting, this Pilatus PC12 demonstrator has been flying out of the @IrishAirCorps base at Baldonnel. Looks like its its on demo to the Irish Police @GardaTraffic #CatsOutOfTheBag #avgeek pic.twitter.com/TEaEmabsnj

— Michael Kelly (@Michaelkelly707) August 8, 2018

it begins.

[pilatus]

Is it possible it's being used to train/familiarise Air Corps personnel on the PC12 before our own machines are delivered?

[EUFighter]

Given the tight patterns it flew over Athlone and race-tracks over Dublin I would suspect the Garda more than the AC, not to say there might not be some AC on board.

[sofa]

I spotted it flying across Dublin City at around 1pm yesterday heading in a North Westly direction

Ugly yoke

[Chuck]

Is it possible it's being used to train/familiarise Air Corps personnel on the PC12 before our own machines are delivered?

No. Nothing to do with training AC personnel.

[meridian]

... No.1 nearly here, early 2019, has anyone heard any indication on when it's due to arrive or other about it's configuration?

Found a photo of the first machine (serial 1795) routing through Prestwick in May to the US

* https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8967695

I looked up details of the flight of that aircraft a while back, but it seemed to be routing to a Pilatus completion centre in the US (Broomfield, Colorado I think). Haven't seen any other public updates other than that, hope the plan is on track

[Chuck]

... No.1 nearly here, early 2019, has anyone heard any indication on when it's due to arrive or other about it's configuration?

Found a photo of the first machine (serial 1795) routing through Prestwick in May to the US

* https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8967695

I looked up details of the flight of that aircraft a while back, but it seemed to be routing to a Pilatus completion centre in the US (Broomfield, Colorado I think). Haven't seen any other public updates other than that, hope the plan is on track

First is delayed, so it will not be early '19. The other two will follow on schedule.

Nothing forthcoming about AGS taking up the option for a fourth.

[na grohmiti]

AGS may be waiting to see if the 1st PC12 is as good as promised before they push the button. They learnt a lot from their initial experience with the Defender.

[meridian]

Thanks Chuck, na grohmitÃ* for that. Pity about the delay on the first one, better to have it right than rush it. There's a fair few civilian ones around the place, but be great to see it in AC colours when it arrives and definitely a massive step up from the 172s.

Have seen the Defender low over Kildare every so often over the last while, so someone must have sorted out a job lot of spares to get her back into the air

[meridian]

A few months on, and a few months closer to the PC12s coming on stream. Have been keeping an eye on the web for any photos or updates, but all quiet so far. Is there any estimated delivery date for the first machine, or how the second machine is coming along?

[DeV]

2 will be delivered this year and 1 next year
https://www.defence.ie/press/speeche...rugha-barracks

[apod]

Training syllabi for the new planes crews went live on IKON today.
Some VERY interesting stuff in store for the drivers and commanders of those buses.

[meridian]

Thanks for the update! Great to see things moving along and sounds like it's in a positive way for the future too

[morpheus]

Just need to find pilots and techies now - not many left at this stage :(

[DeV]

Just need to find pilots and techies now - not many left at this stage :(

Thing is they are replacing 6 aircraft (single pilot) with 3 aircraft (dual pilot)

Now the 6 or 3 will never be available at all times but the 3 will come with PBH which should increase serviceability, there will be less aircraft to maintain (so that should free up techs).

[EUFighter]

2 will be delivered this year and 1 next year
https://www.defence.ie/press/speeche...rugha-barracks

I also noticed we will be the German BG next year with the FHQ in Stadtallendorf; nice training area.
Also not too far from the Eder dam so could be a chance for the new PC12 to play???

[Bravo20]

You will need to ask Maurice Quinn very nicely

[trellheim]

See my post in the other thread re SOFA

[pym]

"We can be right overhead; we don't even need the satellite," a U-28A pilot from the 319th SOS, identified only as Captain David, told Military.com in 2018. "We can talk directly to the guys on the ground and provide that good coverage for them."

But perhaps most importantly, the small U-28As are relatively cheap to fly and maintain and can operate from small airports and forward operating bases with limited infrastructure. A standard non-military PC-12 reportedly costs just around $500 per flight hour to operate. "We can provide four hours' station time, plus an hour there and back, and land using less fuel than it takes a C-130 just to start and taxi to the runway," Captain David had also told Military.com.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...icial-nickname

Article on the USAF's PC-12 fleet.

[meridian]

Short article on the PC12 being unveiled this time last year. Translated from French through Google Translate, so some of the words are a bit Franglais-ish

* https://translate.google.com/transla...2Fpage%2F10%2F

And another article from Flying In Ireland recently about a PC12 demo in Weston. It mentions that the first of the Air Corps ones is due for delivery later this year

* https://flyinginireland.com/2019/06/...emo-in-weston/

[pym]

Any word on delivery date? Could have sworn I just spotted a grey PC12 over Dublin with weather radar dome on wing.

[pym]

Check out the PROP on that!

Our new fleet of PC-12NG aircraft are making great progress as they begin their 'Test and Evaluation' phase, over the next 4 months each aircraft will be put through its paces before final acceptance in Ireland. #strengthenthenation #joinourteam pic.twitter.com/5dAevxsiVo

— Irish Air Corps (@IrishAirCorps) January 18, 2020

[pym]

At first glance - they have a few things in common with the USAF PC-12's:
The box on the tail for the horizontal stabiliser is notably larger than the civilian NG model - probably housing electronics.
Both feature a low VHF/HF wire antenna.

Some differences:
IAC four cabin windows as opposed to one or three on the USAF surveillance models
No visible countermeasures equipment fitted
Doesnt look like EO turret etc are fitted yet

[EUFighter]

At first glance - they have a few things in common with the USAF PC-12's:
The box on the tail for the horizontal stabiliser is notably larger than the civilian NG model - probably housing electronics.
Both feature a low VHF/HF wire antenna.

Some differences:
IAC four cabin windows as opposed to one or three on the USAF surveillance models
No visible countermeasures equipment fitted
Doesnt look like EO turret etc are fitted yet

The EO turret is meant to be a retractable type.