Pilatus PC-12 NG

[EUFighter]

Why would they send all three over to America if one is not being fitted out with the equipment ?

It maybe that the U-28A aircraft were equipped at the facility in Broomfield, Colorado.

[DeV]

Nothing about this purchase, from the colour scheme to the apparent fit-out appears planned. A need existed and a cancelled order just happened to be available off the production line.

Maybe it was bought at the optioned price and will be modded/painted later but there is little doubt that there is a massive mixture of luck and opportunism in this latest addition.

Regarding the Spectre outfit and possibly sharing 2 suites between 3 aircraft. You'd have to wonder as to how wise that concept is given the fragility/sensitivity of said equipment and potential cost in the event someone drops sonething. Especially given the availability of a dedicated utility machine now. I sincerely hope that is/was not the plan.

To the best of my knowledge that is designed into it. One of the whole points being that the interior is reconfigurable and They are multi-role as they were purchased to be ISTAR, pax, cargo, MEDEVAC and utility aircraft.

You would assume the sensors (especially the EO turret (which is retracted into the fuselage)) are permanent fixtures.

[Jetjock]

To the best of my knowledge that is designed into it. One of the whole points being that the interior is reconfigurable and They are multi-role as they were purchased to be ISTAR, pax, cargo, MEDEVAC and utility aircraft.

You would assume the sensors (especially the EO turret (which is retracted into the fuselage)) are permanent fixtures.

We've had Jack of all trades master of none issues with aircraft before.

Whatever way you look at it, it's not optimal to have ISTAR aircraft flying utility roles with only the interface removed and all other excess weight still installed.

[EUFighter]

Regarding the Spectre outfit and possibly sharing 2 suites between 3 aircraft. You'd have to wonder as to how wise that concept is given the fragility/sensitivity of said equipment and potential cost in the event someone drops sonething. Especially given the availability of a dedicated utility machine now. I sincerely hope that is/was not the plan.

This is nothing new, the AW139's are fitted for an EO ball on the port side under the nose, but they are rarely fitted.

It is not the optimum solution and should be avoided. According to the original requirement there are only two complete missions suites so taking that it would mean that the third aircraft is only getting the wiring for the missions system apart from some antenna that would need to be fixed. Only if it cannot be removed quickly will something be installed on the third A/C.

[GoneToTheCanner]

If they go down the route of pulling mission suites out on an ad-hoc basis, then all they'll do is wear the stuff out faster. It's hard on the aircraft, the electrical plugs, the piping and wiring and the electronics. Once stuff is installed, it's best not to disturb it unless you're going in for deep maintenance because you are guaranteedto create heartache for the people who have to either keep it running or to operate it afterwards.

[DeV]

The advantage of now having a utility one

[na grohmiti]

In the early hours of this morning IRL280 completed the delivery of Irish COVID-19 tests from Baldonnell airbase to Germany

The delivery is the first of many to be undertaken by No.1 Operations Wing over the coming weeks#StrengthenTheNation @HSELive @defenceforces #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/RUHyRfw03J

— Irish Air Corps (@IrishAirCorps) May 3, 2020

Excellent asset.

[Flamingo]

I’m surprised how large the cargo hatch is!

[CTU]

I’m surprised how large the cargo hatch is!

Apparently there is an optional inflight "jump door" version of the cargo hatch for the spectre. I wonder if the IAC went for that option as well?

[na grohmiti]

With the whole aircraft designed with the Flying Doctor service in mind it has a cargo door capable of taking ambulance stretcher direct with no lift. The trailing edge is also straight to make direct loading and unloading from the door easier.

[trellheim]

Excellent asset.

if they are looking to build squadron capability with that mission, for sure.

[ancientmariner]

if they are looking to build squadron capability with that mission, for sure.

Irrespective of the degree and consequences of role change for the aircraft and the levels of unwanted wear and tear, it demonstrates that nationally we are still not ready to " ROLL OUT" the critical part of Covid-19 testing-getting the actual results to the patients and doctors. It appears to be a burden for Germany.

[DeV]

Irrespective of the degree and consequences of role change for the aircraft and the levels of unwanted wear and tear, it demonstrates that nationally we are still not ready to " ROLL OUT" the critical part of Covid-19 testing-getting the actual results to the patients and doctors. It appears to be a burden for Germany.

The German labs have spare capacity and they turn them around quickly.

Or would you prefer that we stopped testing or did what the U.K. did to reach 100,000 tests a day .... by sending tens of thousands out to people’s homes (very difficult to do yourself) but without including a return address.

[Sparky42]

Irrespective of the degree and consequences of role change for the aircraft and the levels of unwanted wear and tear, it demonstrates that nationally we are still not ready to " ROLL OUT" the critical part of Covid-19 testing-getting the actual results to the patients and doctors. It appears to be a burden for Germany.

They have spare capacity, we want to increase testing... I honestly don't see the issue, it's not much different than Germany taking in patients from other EU countries to ease their case load as they've done.

[EUFighter]

Irrespective of the degree and consequences of role change for the aircraft and the levels of unwanted wear and tear, it demonstrates that nationally we are still not ready to " ROLL OUT" the critical part of Covid-19 testing-getting the actual results to the patients and doctors. It appears to be a burden for Germany.

Why would it be a burden for Germany? They are down to new cases which are 10% of the peak, the number of active cases is around 25,000 and dropping fast. We are talking about tests, the Germans are taking patients from Italy and France, so I cannot see it being a burden.