Coming back to fixed vs rotary; if we did want to buy then it is still very much a buyer's market. Back in 2018 Airbus sold 21 re-purposed H225s to Ukraine. They had been taken out of offshore service and refitted to a common military standard. The Don was always hot for the Puma, so maybe a few of its grandchild Cougar (H225) would sweeten the pill.
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Originally posted by EUFighter View PostComing back to fixed vs rotary; if we did want to buy then it is still very much a buyer's market. Back in 2018 Airbus sold 21 re-purposed H225s to Ukraine. They had been taken out of offshore service and refitted to a common military standard. The Don was always hot for the Puma, so maybe a few of its grandchild Cougar (H225) would sweeten the pill.
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The Puma morphed into something that was neither fish nor fowl; it got too powerful to land on smaller oil platforms and was a menace to soldiers on land with the downwash and allegedly, the tail rotor gearbox was never strong enough for more powerful engines. The Puma of the 80s was highly regarded because it was a very good combination of size and power versus lifting ability, could fit into fairly small hangars and was easy to keep operational in the field so it was no wonder that it truly sold like hot cakes. It would have been fantastic for the DF if we had a few. What was ironic was that when the Don pleaded for airlift like the Puma and always got refused, the same State had no problem funding Bell 212s for Irish Helicopters, then an arm of the State and occasionally, leasing in heavier iron for odd jobs.
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Originally posted by GoneToTheCanner View PostThe Puma morphed into something that was neither fish nor fowl; it got too powerful to land on smaller oil platforms and was a menace to soldiers on land with the downwash and allegedly, the tail rotor gearbox was never strong enough for more powerful engines. The Puma of the 80s was highly regarded because it was a very good combination of size and power versus lifting ability, could fit into fairly small hangars and was easy to keep operational in the field so it was no wonder that it truly sold like hot cakes. It would have been fantastic for the DF if we had a few. What was ironic was that when the Don pleaded for airlift like the Puma and always got refused, the same State had no problem funding Bell 212s for Irish Helicopters, then an arm of the State and occasionally, leasing in heavier iron for odd jobs.For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.
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No idea how...
Anyway, while perusing ASDB Flight Tracker this morning I saw IRL280 Irish Air Corps flying over Oxfordshire at 22,000ft doing 180kts.
I assumed it was a CASA doing a patient transfer, but Google tells me that 280 is a PC-12 you've just bought....
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Originally posted by ropebag View PostNo idea how...
Anyway, while perusing ASDB Flight Tracker this morning I saw IRL280 Irish Air Corps flying over Oxfordshire at 22,000ft doing 180kts.
I assumed it was a CASA doing a patient transfer, but Google tells me that 280 is a PC-12 you've just bought....
* https://www.pprune.org/spectators-ba...58-irl280.html
Great to see the new bus out and about, have seen it around Kildare almost everyday this week. A Facebook post about the new aircraft from the Dutch Scramble spotters website, and nice pic of her on approach to Aldergrove a few days ago
* https://www.facebook.com/Scramblemag...33506116675897
* https://www.v1images.com/product/iri...tus-pc-12-280/
Safe flying, and remember to was your hands before and after use
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Originally posted by DeV View PostAn ex-Cityjet (donated) RJ85 arrived at Baldonnel today to be decommissioned and used for ground training
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Originally posted by ias View PostMaybe they should try to keep it airworthy for another four months just in case they need it to repatriate the troops from Syria and Lebanon in August (contingency in case the normal carrier's aircraft are still grounded). On a side note, I've always felt our lack of transport aircraft have left our overseas troops somewhat exposed.
UN has banned troop rotations for the time being
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Originally posted by ias View PostMaybe they should try to keep it airworthy for another four months just in case they need it to repatriate the troops from Syria and Lebanon in August (contingency in case the normal carrier's aircraft are still grounded). On a side note, I've always felt our lack of transport aircraft have left our overseas troops somewhat exposed.
Without knowing the particular airframe, there may indeed be some life in it but the planned decommissioning over the next few weeks probably involves stripping every saleable non expired part.
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