Agusta Westland AB139 for Irish Air Corps

[DeV]

AB 139:

12 utility seats (in 3 rows of 4)

10 troops seats (similar to MOWAG seats) back-to-back, with room for CEFO and patrol pack at troops feet, provision for 2 gunners/loadmasters with GPMG(SF) just behind pilots seats. 3.4m storage space for CEMO etc.

Capable of lifting 105mm artillery piece (under-slung) while carrying crew & ammunition in cabin

Roles: military transport, casevac, air ambulance, VIP/utility transport

To be delivered: 2006/7 (2 options still open)

[ias]

Dev, the AB139 spec above, is this official, I thought the tender stated 8 + 2 + 2, or does the 10 include 2 gunners/loadmasters (though the spec above appears to read otherwise)?

IAS

[futurepilot]

^ yeah, I was under the impression that it was 8 troops + 2 gunners + pilots.

[DeV]

I'm getting this from An Cosantoir, but presume that 2 of the troop seats are for the loadmasters/gunners

[FMolloy]

With crash-proof seating it will carry 8 troops & 2 door gunners.

[Old Redeye]

Ref the AB assembly line, I was there in 2001 getting background for an article. They were putting together AB-412's and Merlins then. Only saw the 139 prototype on the ramp and the TTH mock-up. An excellent facility with very high standards of workmanship. 139 technology is certainly first rate, resulting in superb performance - excellent return for expenditure. Should do the IAC proud. Air Corps pilots should be chomping at the bit to get into this machine and the considerably more complex mission sets that will come with it - NVG ops, SF insertion & recovery, air assaults, sling loading, FLIR aerial surveillance, deck ops on the new NS Support Ship, etc. Lucky bastards!

[yooklid]

Perhaps we should look for 12 139's and 4 135s as being the eventual rotary wing contingent?

[Old Redeye]

12 + 4 would be great, but is probably not supportable in terms of financing and personnel to man and maintain.

[yooklid]

12 + 4 would be great, but is probably not supportable in terms of financing and personnel to man and maintain.

Even if all other rotary airframes are retired.

12 + 4, 8 Pilatus plus the rest will surely free up man hours, training cycles etc. by not having such a disparate fleet. Perhaps that will help out?

[apod]

Ok we have had the light utility heli thread ,now heres the medium utility heli thread.
Just to get the ball rolling does anybody know when the first of the ab139s are due to be delivered ?
And who do ye think will be the first to get pictures???

[eelmonster]

This was easily located from http://www.defence.ie/website.nsf/0/...?OpenDocument:

The Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O’Dea, T.D., has today signed a contract for the purchase of four new helicopters for the Air Corps. The four Utility AB 139 Helicopters are being acquired from the Bell Agusta Aerospace Company at a cost of €49m including VAT and will be operated by the Air Corps in a general purpose military operational and training role. Two helicopters will be delivered in 2006 and the other 2 in 2007.

[Goldie fish]

as joshua says etc....

AB 139 is a Utility Heli, not a Medium Utility Heli.

[apod]

What did the tender say? Anyway what i was driving at was WHEN in 2006 they are due to be delivered?

[Goldie fish]

http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/b...ead.php?t=4897

Oh and read this one too.

http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/b...delivery+ab139

Its amazing what the S***** F******* will do

They expect the first 2 in autumn this year and the second 2 summer 2007.I assume a decision will be made at that stage whether or not to exercise the option for a further 2.
http://www.dgualdo.it/prod-ab139.htm

[andy]

as joshua says etc....

AB 139 is a Utility Heli, not a Medium Utility Heli.

I agree also. We have some Utility heli's and some training heli's. The DF could do with some medium/heavy lift heli's like the Merlin.

[ODIN]

Give it time andy

[happenin]

I agree also. We have some Utility heli's and some training heli's. The DF could do with some medium/heavy lift heli's like the Merlin.

Don't forget the fighter jets andy

[andy]

I didnt back the fighter jets proposal

Still I wouldnt say No to some Saab Gripens or Eurofighter to meet our international obligations

Time for another "we need jets thread ?"

[ODIN]

Do you want the mods to lay an egg?!?All that work in joing a thread to an older thread!!!lets stick to topic. Does anybody have the picture of the proposed paint scheme for the AB139's

[Vmax]

I agree also. We have some Utility heli's and some training heli's. The DF could do with some medium/heavy lift heli's like the Merlin.

While talking about utility heli's would someone like to give reasons for and against the purchase of aircraft the size of Merlins, and how they could be utilised by the Aer Corp to their fullest capabilities on a daily basis bearing in mind the 139's are on the way.

[apod]

mea culpa

[andy]

i was only joking about the jets.

About the medium lift helis well... it would give the aircorps a major increase capability and be able to move a decent amount of soliders around the place. It would also mean we could provide a back up to SAR and help in any situation if need be. Medium lift heli's would be a god send for Irish soliders overseas and they could be deployed there too. Even though the white paper on defence contradicts this.

[Goldie fish]

Do you want the mods to lay an egg?!?All that work in joing a thread to an older thread!!!lets stick to topic. Does anybody have the picture of the proposed paint scheme for the AB139's

Look for a thread with the title "New helis: what colour" or something like that...

GREEN!

does nobody use the search function any more?

[Slacker]

Goldie, what about modellers?

They need to know what shade of green to order for their decals......

[eelmonster]

ab-139 decal (proposed):