Question about aircraft used in east-timor

Remmy

Hi all.
This could be an interesting topic to discuss.I understand That it was unfeasible to use Irish air corps choppers in east-timor due to lack of attachment of dust filters and the cost and logistics of transporting them there.I saw a few pics of I the ARW being transported in them.I read heard somewhere they where Vietnam era heli's.They weren't huey's I dont think.Any aviation buffs care to hazard what model they where?
Also are pilots sourced 'on the ground'{bad word choice}Or were they Irish air corps pilots.I assume the same principles of aviation apply to all helicopters but all the same they would have to have different handling characteristic's.

If it was the case Of Air corps pilots going over on tour,familiarising themselves with them and using them for troop and equipment transport that is pretty outstanding but I'd be willing to be believe this wouldn't be how things work.
Opinions?

Khannie

Moved from fitness.....

Steyr

The DF had posters out and video/promo video of the ARW with a Huey Overhead although im sure someone more well informed here will address your question.:)

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Yes to Hueys.............No to Irish Air Corps flying them.

BrianD

Both the Australian and New Zealand air forces supplied air assets as part of the international force in East Timor that Ireland was a part of.

The RNZAF provided Iroquois helicopters and their role was to insert and extract patrols which presumably would have included the Irish detachment. The Iroquois are newer verisions of the famous Hueys of the Vietnam era. The Australian army also provide Black Hawk helicopters.

In Chad, the Irish army uses 'hired' aviation with pilots which turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The aircraft hired weren't suitable for troop transport.

It woudn't make sense for the Irish Air Corp to ship the small number of helicopters that they operate to any far flung part of the world. The liklihood is that few would return.

Poccington

I only know of the Irish lads using Kiwi choppers, so just look to see what choppers they were using in Timor and you'll have an answer.

BrianD

The RNZAF have two Iroquois helicopters in Timor as part of their commitment. I did read some article in the papers some time ago which described a 'day in the life' of Irish army personnel based there. The article referred to being transported by Kiwi helicopters.

V Bull

Correct all round, the ARW were transported / airlifted by the Kiwis in their Iroquois choppers which are a total upgraded version of the Hueys.

Before deploying to Timor, the ARW acclimatised in Darwin, Australia where they also trained with the Aussies and their Blackhawks I beleive.

Here are a couple of links to the Australian & New Zeland DF websites on Timor.

http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opastute/index.htm

http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/image-gallery/deployments/timor-leste/default.htm

Remmy

ah huey's it is then.it must have been the angle i saw it at it didn't look quite right.Thanks for that guys.what kinda upgrades are on these Iroquois compared to the vietnam era ones of old.?

Tribunius

BrianD wrote: »

In Chad, the Irish army uses 'hired' aviation with pilots which turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The aircraft hired weren't suitable for troop transport.

They were perfectly suitable for transporting troops. The controversy was that they were registered as civilian helicopters which have different standards (equipment fit wise) to meet for transporting people. They did not meet them as they were military troop transport helicopters pretty much the exact same setup as the ones that are currently being used.

Scruff

if i recall correctly they were 2 Mil Mi-8 that werent certified for militaty use alright but they were replaced with 2 that were. I saw a RTE Nationwide special on Troops in Chad last month and there were IAC pilots flying them. Link here but it doesnt stream rigt for me.

Links to some articles on the helicopters:
new helicopters
[url="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/army-chopper-blunder-blamed-on-excess-of-zeal-1664599.html]chopper blunder review[/url]

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Scruff wrote: »

if i recall correctly they were 2 Mil Mi-8 that werent certified for militaty use alright but they were replaced with 2 that were. I saw a RTE Nationwide special on Troops in Chad last month and there were IAC pilots flying them. Link here but it doesnt stream rigt for me.

Links to some articles on the helicopters:
new helicopters
[URL="http://"http://www.independent.ie/national-news/army-chopper-blunder-blamed-on-excess-of-zeal-1664599.html"]chopper blunder review[/URL]

For insurance reasons, the 2 Mi-8's were not suitable for use of military troops. Practically they were fine, did the job no bother. They were DEFINATELY NOT flown by Air Corps Pilots in Chad.

V Bull

Benwaver is correct, There are no IAC pilots on flight duties with the UN or EUFOR at present, but from what I'm told is........watch this space !!

Remmy

V Bull wrote: »

Benwaver is correct, There are no IAC pilots on flight duties with the UN or EUFOR at present, but from what I'm told is........watch this space !!

Do you foresee them being implemented in later tours?

arybvtcw0eolkf

V Bull wrote: »

Benwaver is correct, There are no IAC pilots on flight duties with the UN or EUFOR at present, but from what I'm told is........watch this space !!

Remmy wrote: »

Do you foresee them being implemented in later tours?

Ball hops lads!.

.

V Bull

Ball hops lads!.................Perhaps!!!

But my friend has told me that they are talking about sending an AW139 with 3 full crews abroad on a UN Mission................:eek:

Praetorian Saighdiuir

There will not be any Air Corps pilots flying any aircraft overseas in the near future...there will always be talk of it but the Government is a bit "windy" when it comes to this.

diverdriver

There's not a hope of sending AW-139s abroad on any mission let alone one with the potential for hostile action. Apart from the fact that they are not mil spec, the crews are hardly combat ready. On top of that you need maintenance back up, so ground crew will need to go too and spares and consumables. The Air Corps has zero experience deploying anywhere except airports. Certainly not austere LZs in hot and dusty areas. On top of that the AW-139 may or may not have the capability. No one knows yet because the Air Corps is the lead 'military' customer and no one knows how it would cope with sandstorms or tropical downpours or even a night outside the hangar. One helicopter wouldn't be enough either, you'd need two at least for back up thus denuding the the fleet in Ireland.

If the deployment is somewhere temperate at an airport and used only to fly VIPs from place to place. Well it might work out. Otherwise it's pure fantasy.

Poccington

benwavner wrote: »

There will not be any Air Corps pilots flying any aircraft overseas in the near future...there will always be talk of it but the Government is a bit "windy" when it comes to this.

They're a bit windy when it comes to Overseas in general tbh.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Poccington wrote: »

They're a bit windy when it comes to Overseas in general tbh.

I couldnt agree more!!