To those who don't know: Yes we have an Air Corps

Gablin

And here's videos of them:

PC-9s in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkiB3n-AEOI

PC-9s air firing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFJpys6CY1Y

Owen

I was reading an article in this month's Flying in Ireland magazine on the Aer Corps Cessnas. They said that at one point, the Cessnas had rocket launchers installed on the wing tips, and when you fired a rocket, the backforce would bring the aircraft to a standstill in the air. I sh*t you not ...

RoundyMooney

Nice videos.

If you want to embed them in the post, gablin, just wrap youtube tags around the text at the end of the youtube video url, as in [PHP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkiB3n-AEOI

[/PHP] for the PC-9 firing video.

ned78 wrote:

I was reading an article in this month's Flying in Ireland magazine on the Aer Corps Cessnas. They said that at one point, the Cessnas had rocket launchers installed on the wing tips, and when you fired a rocket, the backforce would bring the aircraft to a standstill in the air. I sh*t you not ...

:eek:

junkyard

I think I read somewhere the Irish government have or were buying back one of the first planes they had when the air corps first started.

peasant

Those PC 9's are fairly impressive.

I work next to Sligo Airport and once or twice a month they come down here in flights of up to three to do overflight and approach / touchdown excercises.

The speed (and sound) of these yokes is something else.

Steyr

ned78 wrote:

I was reading an article in this month's Flying in Ireland magazine on the Aer Corps Cessnas. They said that at one point, the Cessnas had rocket launchers installed on the wing tips, and when you fired a rocket, the backforce would bring the aircraft to a standstill in the air. I sh*t you not ...

Its "AIR CORPS" Not AER CORPS like AerLingus
Well your wrong there Rockets are "Recoil-less" so they dont recoil like a gun so no the Cessna would not Stall in the Air, whoever wrote that should be shot. And Yes the Air Corps Cessna's were equipped with Rockets when Operating.

Steyr

junkyard wrote:

I think I read somewhere the Irish government have or were buying back one of the first planes they had when the air corps first started.

Yes that is true, heres the post:







Lorna Siggins
One of the first and only surviving biplanes used by the Air Corps 75 years ago is to be purchased on the State's behalf by Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea.

The purchase of the Avro 631 cadet model, used in second World War patrols off the Irish coastline, is expected to cost more than $200,000 (ˆ152,000), with additional delivery costs.

There are "no plans" for the Minister to fly it back to Ireland from New Zealand, according to his department, but it may be shipped in time for the general election.

Confirming the bid yesterday, the Minister said that he was "very conscious of the Air Corp's proud past and of the desire of many aviation enthusiasts, military and civil alike to preserve as much of the Air Corps heritage as possible". The current owner was keen for it to be returned to its original aerodrome in Baldonnel, he said.

In March, 1932, the Air Corps took delivery of a number of Avro aircraft - the 631 Cadet model - at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. The planes were painted in Air Corps colours of black and silver, with the national flag across the rudder and wingtips.

The C7 in New Zealand was a replacement for one of the Avros which crashed in 1932, and was used by the Air Corps from 1934. Later it was sold into private ownership, and was consigned to the rafters of a timber mill for more than 40 years before a well-known aircraft restorer in England, Ron Souch, located it.

By the time it arrived in New Zealand most of its fuselage structure had been restored. Rare aircraft collector Jim Schmidt continued the project, and also retains the plane's original log book.

It includes a letter from a former Air Corps pilot, Donald MacCarron, describing his experiences in the C7 on patrol during the second World War. "At one point he jokes about the boredom almost driving him to join the Luftwaffe!" Schmidt told The Irish Times when it reported on the discovery two years ago. One other Avro 631 exists but it is on display in a Portuguese museum. The C7 is the world's only "active example", still flying in the Irish colours.

http://www.avrocadet.com/

jmayo

So are they putting the Avro back in front line service?
If only the eejits hadn't gotten rid of all the stuff from the 50s.

Steyr

jmayo wrote:

So are they putting the Avro back in front line service?

I really hope what you just said there is a joke.

jmayo

What do you think ?
It is meant ot be a snipe comment about air corp and what they have to deal with from their politcal masters. You know messer moustachio from Limerick and all his predecessors.
Even if our air force is second or more likely third class (in terms of what they have got to fly), I don't think it is very likely they will use an aircraft of such historic importance and years anywhere but as a musuem piece.
But

jmayo

An regarding getting rid of all stuff form 50s etc...yes I think it was wrong, but then again I think the RAF should have held onto some Spits and hurricanes.
Sadly the bean counters always win. Yeah sure they were obsolete in terms of jets but they made a great sound, taught real flying and were gorgeous to see. All things aviation buffs and some of the great unwashed public will pay to get.

Steyr

The Air Corps ( Not Air Force ) do a damn good job with what they have, i know we all would love to see more but hopefully the PC9M's are a step forward.

Bradidup

Anyone remember the De Havilland Vampires? They used to to look and sound class in three formation flying over the Easter Parade. I think they still have one left in the museum.

http://www.military.ie/images/vamptwr2.jpg

FiSe

Yes, there's one in Collin's Barracks in Dublin and second is being restored at Baldonnel, there is third one somewhere around /?/, or that's the rumour anyway...

Bradidup

FiSe wrote:

Yes, there's one in Collin's Barracks in Dublin and second is being restored at Baldonnel, there is third one somewhere around /?/, or that's the rumour anyway...

Nice one, I thaught they were sold off, they were a classic I believe they had a wooden frame!

RoundyMooney

I got excited for a second when I read that post, thinking it was Collins' in Cork that was referred to

jmayo

Steyr,
the reason I referred to the "The Air Corps" as Air Force is that is what they would be compared to in other countries. Although with US they could be compared to US Marines since they provide an air arm to their ground troops.

I would say the PC9M's are the final step. I don't think that there will be the same amount of money in the kitty in a few years. Once the building boom comes to an end the government coffers will take a big hit. There will be more of an outcry for money to be spent on health, etc than in buying fast jets.

The reason I compared the Air Corp to 3rd rate air force is because of the equipment that they have to work with. No matter how good a pilot you are, if you are flying Cessna you can not compete with guy flying Hunter never mind guy flying Hornet. (guy here can be male or female so as not to cause offense to anyone).
Saying that some pilots in the Air Corp have as big a heads as their equivalents in other air forces....just a military pilot thing I guess.

jerry2ie

hi guys anyone on here from 45 th appt class , would be great to here fro any of u guys again , jerry noonan ex er air corps

Oilrig

If I can be pedantic... I thought the Air Corps don't have Cessna's they're Rheims, ie the French version...

PC9's are as close as you'll get in a prop this side of a jet, serious piece of kit and great to see it. I believe the Kiwis are watching with interest...

Roll on the C130J... it has to happen...:D

Steyr

Oilrig wrote: »

If I can be pedantic... I thought the Air Corps don't have Cessna's they're Rheims, ie the French version...

Correct Reims Cessna's, used to be armed the odd time too with rockets.

Oilrig wrote: »

PC9's are as close as you'll get in a prop this side of a jet, serious piece of kit and great to see it. I believe the Kiwis are watching with interest...

Especially since we recently trained the Mexican AF on the PC9M.

Oilrig wrote: »

Roll on the C130J... it has to happen...:D

Hopefully, 3 or 4 for overseas etc but Bal needs to undergo some major Overhauling and a bigger Ramp!!

Aidan Disney

Bal needs to undergo some major Overhauling and a bigger Ramp!!

Agreed

ian_m

A bit of effort went into those videos. Anyone know where they do the coastal firing activities?

FiSe

Gormanstown, Co. Meath, me thinks :cool:

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Some Hawk jet trainers would go nicely with the PC9's!

Steyr

Gormanstown indeed. Does anybody know if they do low level flying? Do the Air Corps have LFA's? Seems like they do in the video.


LFA = Low Fly Area.

Fabio

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Some Hawk jet trainers would go nicely with the PC9's!

They would actually.

Surely few MIG's would be cost effective...

Captain Chaos

Hawks are old and MiGs, 29s and 35s have a low mean time between overhauls of engines compared to western fighters.

If we were shopping for a fighter, the F-16C/D Block 50/52+ or the JAS-39C/D would do well for us. Will never happen though.

An advanced combat trainer like the T-50 or Yak-130 would be good buys.

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The Hawk Mk 128 isn't old.

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cp251

Steyr wrote: »

Gormanstown indeed. Does anybody know if they do low level flying? Do the Air Corps have LFA's? Seems like they do in the video.
LFA = Low Fly Area.

They do indeed but not in LFAs but MOAs (military operating areas). Which are marked on the Irish aeronautical chart.

Scruff

Great videos, cant beleive i'm only seeing them now:rolleyes:
They dont look like too bad a shot either.