Irish Military Online is in no way affiliated with the Irish Defence Forces. It is in no way sponsored or endorsed by the Irish Defence Forces or the Irish Government. Opinions expressed by the authors and contributors of this site are not necessarily those of the Defence Forces. If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Did the article explain why aircraft with those features would be required? Is the mission the same - no change over the past 30+ years? Do the Cessnas need to be replaced at all?
You don't exactly need a PhD to work it out. They are old, have a high number of hours on them and there a more modern aircraft would be safer.
- Turbo-prop engines are faster and cheaper to maintain
- Bigger cabin - more troops / cargo
- Modern Avonics - the aircraft is more capable (eg flying at night)
- Able to carry special equipment - again more capable aircraft (wider number of roles)
- Better value for money
- Able to operate from remote locations with short runways
Over the last few weeks and months I have been reading and watching reports of the interception of Russian aircraft by British/US aircraft. These aircraft are reportedly spying on training missions etc.
Is the privacy of Irish training missions important to conceal?? Who knows if/are we been watched by other military forces as we train?? Do other forces care?.......do we need interceptor jets???
I assume these are the Aero L-159's.... there are quite a number just sitting around hangers since the Czech air force scaled back.
A step up from the PC-9's certainly. But worth it?
Edit: I remember someone mentioning an anecdote, possibly on this board, it was a discussion he had with a member of the Air Corps - essentially, the thrust of it was that compared to the fuel costs of the Fouga Magister, a BAe Hawk fuel costs would be astronomical, even leaving aside other routine maintenance....
I'm guessing it would be a similar story for the 159..
Seems like Foxe is on a monthly bonus for writing these articles..a few months he was preaching about death from the skies and the ability of the PC 9 to mount weapons...then there was the Navy's secret weapons tests..now its jets...
Any guesses on next months feature?
Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe
Did anyone else read Ken Foxe in the Irish Mail on sunday? It seems Aero Vodochody offered us a few Jets....
They had a guy at one of the Salthill Airshow press releases a few years ago saying that they wanted to produce Aircaft in Ireland and offer them to the IAC, I was present at that. The Czech jet didnt turn up though for the show.
They were L-39ZA models that were for an unpaid order if I remember correctly. The L-159 would be a step in the right direction and there are plenty of as new aircraft available. Lets face it though folks, they would only be a step. We have no military radar network and a limited civilian primary network available so if the Russians want to get close they can and we wont see them...unless they're squalking their transponders!!!
Reply to "when will Baldonnel become a civilian airport"
To be honest it wont ever happen for long time if it ever does. The many rumours that circulaleted from 1999 onwards that the Don would be destined for use by low fair airlines or cargo aviation handlers because of the huge build of industrial units around the Air Base is ill founded.
Dublin Airport the primary gateway into our state is being developed currently that will have the capactiy to handle 50million passenger and also facitlies our in hand to cater for further cargo handling though increased new taxi ways, more aircraft stands and other ancilliares facilities available it is also the same for airlines with low fare type or charter or trans nationals having access this similiar new facilities.
With the expansion of Dublin Airport campus with with T2 coming online in spring 2010 along with Pier D this autumn and the extension of the existing terminal one it will allow passenger and airlines experience utiliseing Dublin to be a vast improvment and elimanate the need for second Airport in Dublin. Especially since the plans/project is just about to commence for the second terminal and possibility of third terminal around 2015 if current pax figures contiue at the future projected rate.
Baldonnel is only military secured aerodrome that is manned and guarded all year round and such provides a very important part of the DF and the capability it can provide currently or in full operational use as a Military Air Base.
BMax.
British officer: You're seven minutes late, Mr. Collins.
Michael Collins: You've kept us waiting 700 years. You can have your seven minutes.
[As the British flag comes down]
Michael Collins: So that's what all the bother was about.
We process personal data about users of our site, through the use of cookies and other technologies, to deliver our services, personalize advertising, and to analyze site activity. We may share certain information about our users with our advertising and analytics partners. For additional details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
By clicking "I AGREE" below, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our personal data processing and cookie practices as described therein. You also acknowledge that this forum may be hosted outside your country and you consent to the collection, storage, and processing of your data in the country where this forum is hosted.
Comment