C-17 Globemaster just landed in Baldonnel

JJLongford

Pretty cool visitor. Anybody know what's with the increase in USAF visitors at Baldonnel? Is it traffic from middle east going home or what?

urajoke

JJLongford wrote: »

Pretty cool visitor. Anybody know what's with the increase in USAF visitors at Baldonnel? Is it traffic from middle east going home or what?

Increase ?

Bebop

It flew right over my house, breathtaking!
When will it be leaving? I'd like to get a photo

V Bull

Here she is. Photo taken just after 1800hrs as she flew over my house...

tomc

Some noise over Ballyroan....

JJLongford

urajoke wrote: »

Increase ?

Pretty unscientfic I know but I have definitely noticed an increase in USAF traffic. It's not uncommon to see a C-17 or a Hercules(I think) coming in or out.

jimbis

Was some sight to see it so low over south dub!

Paula_K

Thank God for boards.ie! This thing flew right over us today as we where out in the garden in Rathfarnam, couldn't tell where it was from as we couldn't see any emblems on the tail, it was literally right above us! Amazing to see it! Knew it wasn't Irish anyways. Thanks for the info, now I know we're not being invaded! :P

*edit*
Oh and would anyone have an idea as to why it's over here?

N7777G

USAF C-17A Globemaster III 99-0167 seen overhead Tallaght on short finals for Baldonnel this evening:- http://flic.kr/p/cLSikC

Zamboni

Ridiculously low. I thought they were coming for me.

urajoke

Paula_K wrote: »

Thank God for boards.ie! This thing flew right over us today as we where out in the garden in Rathfarnam, couldn't tell where it was from as we couldn't see any emblems on the tail, it was literally right above us! Amazing to see it! Knew it wasn't Irish anyways. Thanks for the info, now I know we're not being invaded! :P

*edit*
Oh and would anyone have an idea as to why it's over here?

We'll never know exactly.

Captain Chaos

From the tail codes, and base name it's based in Alaska. Great pic.

haymur

Great pic V bull wish I had my camera when it went over Dalkey at 5:45. When I was out walking saw it first in distance and thought it was a Cityjet when it got nearer saw it was a C17 .Nice sound as it went over.

Moo1

A lot of us activity , Saturday evening 10 pm a USAF 737 landed and left the following morning. C 130 are regular visitors. My guess Shannon is being used for troops and baldonnel or equipment transfers from the Middle East.

martinsvi

JJLongford wrote: »

Is it traffic from middle east going home or what?

as far as I know, USAF is not that keen to use their C17 in traffic between middle east and USA. Civil cargo operators are often hired to do the job - with stopovers in Riga, Latvia /Tbilisi, Georgia operators like Kalita, National and Veteran operate 747s for up to 6 flights per day.

my observation is that whenever C17 is near Europe it is either participating in a military training or air-show somewhere near by. I know that C17 is a frequent visitor in Riga (my home town), they even had a visit from C5 recently - just to support training activities, nothing to do with middle east

arctan

it was a late arrival for the Bray airshow ;-)

westdub

I caught the departure today...


Reach 445 by Lucan Snapper, on Flickr


Reach 445 by Lucan Snapper, on Flickr


Reach 445 by Lucan Snapper, on Flickr

haymur

Lovely shots were youon the base.what camera and lens were you using

Aerohead

haymur wrote: »

Lovely shots were youon the base.what camera and lens were you using

Outside the fence id say possibly if you look at the first picture I think that is the perimeter fence at EIME.

westdub

Correct... Outside the Airfield with a Nikon D90 and 70-300mm lens...

keroseneboy

Is Ireland a neutral country ? If so, why are we helping military of a foreign power in their military activities ?

martinsvi

how do you know who's helping who?

urajoke

keroseneboy wrote: »

Is Ireland a neutral country ? If so, why are we helping military of a foreign power in their military activities ?

Because it's what we do ! It's our version of neutrality, which has a precedent in Sweden's neutrality in WWII.

andy_g

Technically we are not neutral as if we were it would have to be bound in our constitution.

However it is not in our constitution. This can be bought for 2.50 in any eason's.

keroseneboy

martinsvi wrote: »

how do you know who's helping who?

Dear Martinsvi,

Either you have missed my point or don't inderstand the concept of neutrality.

Neutrality means we are bound by our constitution to not help either side in a war(i.e. we don't believe killing people ever helps).

My point is that neutrality is like virginity. Either you are neutral or you are not. Being "helped" has nothing to do with it.

Normally a neutral country's foreign policy is not to volunteer an opinion about any other sovereign nation's conduct in war.

However, aiding and abetting saId powers in such conduct renders out neitrality clause in our constitution a farce. I am objecting to our own contuct, not that of the US military. I have no opinion on what they are doing in Irak, Afganistan, Iran etc.
In fact, I was employed by the US State department and treated very well.

martinsvi

keroseneboy wrote: »

Dear Martinsvi,

Either you have missed my point or don't inderstand the concept of neutrality.

Neutrality means we are bound by our constitution to not help either side in a war(i.e. we don't believe killing people ever helps).

My point is that neutrality is like virginity. Either you are neutral or you are not. Being "helped" has nothing to do with it.

Normally a neutral country's foreign policy is not to volunteer an opinion about any other sovereign nation's conduct in war.

However, aiding and abetting saId powers in such conduct renders out neitrality clause in our constitution a farce. I am objecting to our own contuct, not that of the US military. I have no opinion on what they are doing in Irak, Afganistan, Iran etc.
In fact, I was employed by the US State department and treated very well.

What I was suggesting (or speculating) was that maybe this stopover had nothing to do with any war or violence of any kind. Let's say - if C17 returns home from some airshow and crew decides to take a break and pump some fuel before Atlantic crossing - would Ireland's neutrality also be ruined by this?

westdub

Ireland is not neutral, we are part of the EU's Nordic Battlegroup and also have close ties to other European countries.... Neutrality is not in our constitution.

keroseneboy

westdub wrote: »

Ireland is not neutral, we are part of the EU's Nordic Battlegroup and also have close ties to other European countries.... Neutrality is not in our constitution.

Try reading article 28.3.


The 1996 Report of the Constitutional Review Group concluded that neutrality in Ireland has always been a policy...

De Valera went to the German Enbassy on Ailesbury Road in May 1945 to bring the condolances of the Irish State on the death of Adolf Hitler as he was complying with normal diplomatic protocols between nations that were not at war.

WWII was the most recent opportunity for Ireland to show the practical application of our preference as a nation for neutrality.

The 1996 Report of the Constitutional Review Group concluded that neutrality in Ireland has always been a policy...

It is hypocritical to be neutral in WWII and allow US GV aircraft transit SNN carrying "illegal combatants" to Guantanamo without a revision of Article 28.3 or the constitution.

There are many amateur constitutional legal "experts" floating around causing the likes of Lisbon getting rejected first time.

If you ask a senior council(which I did), he or she will confirm that The Republic of Ireland has always been neutral in any war affecting her and that article 28.3 of the constitution would need amending if we decided to depart from this peaceful policy.

urajoke

keroseneboy wrote: »

Try reading article 28.3.


The 1996 Report of the Constitutional Review Group concluded that neutrality in Ireland has always been a policy...

De Valera went to the German Enbassy on Ailesbury Road in May 1945 to bring the condolances of the Irish State on the death of Adolf Hitler as he was complying with normal diplomatic protocols between nations that were not at war.

WWII was the most recent opportunity for Ireland to show the practical application of our preference as a nation for neutrality.

The 1996 Report of the Constitutional Review Group concluded that neutrality in Ireland has always been a policy...

It is hypocritical to be neutral in WWII and allow US GV aircraft transit SNN carrying "illegal combatants" to Guantanamo without a revision of Article 28.3 or the constitution.

There are many amateur constitutional legal "experts" floating around causing the likes of Lisbon getting rejected first time.

If you ask a senior council(which I did), he or she will confirm that The Republic of Ireland has always been neutral in any war affecting her and that article 28.3 of the constitution would need amending if we decided to depart from this peaceful policy.

What on earth has this got to do with Aviation and this forum, if you have a problem how about you write a strongly worded letter to your TD or take it over to After Hours or the CT forum.

Blue Punto

It annoys me when any military aircraft arrives on our shore that people cry about what there purpose or purposes are.

All aircraft must refuel and all crews must rest which may mean they can visit from time to time.I am sure they do visit for other reasons but those reasons dont interest me as Im not interested in politics etc
Im interested in aircraft which is why I post on this forum ,If I was interested in politics Im sure there is a part in Boards for that .

I have to laugh at the people who do cry foul about visiting airforces (mainly USAF/USN etc)as these people would prob be the first in line to watch The Blue Angels/Thunderbirds/Arrows if/when they ever visit us


Please if you wanna talk aircraft do if your more interested in prisoners going to Guantanemo Bay or neutrality Im sure there is a part of the forum for you elsewhere

bluecode

My point is that neutrality is like virginity. Either you are neutral or you are not. Being "helped" has nothing to do with it.

We're not, we never were least of all in WW2. At best we're non aligned or non belligerent. There is nothing in article 28.3 which makes Ireland neutral. 'Neutrality' is a government policy not enshrined in the constitution. This has long since been trashed out in court. There is no constitutional bar on entering military alliances or becoming involved in a war.

You are right though on one point, our so called neutrality is hypocritical and always has been. We are aligned with western interests, notably the EU, Britain and the USA.

But none of this is relevent in the context of a visit by a military aircraft from a friendly country. I wonder do people in Switzerland and Sweden. (both genuinely neutral countries) get all worked up when a US military aircraft visits? I very much doubt it.

keroseneboy

Apologies, fellow internauts.

I agree that a legal debate does not belong here. I am indeed impressed by the sight of th C17.

I would go to see the blue angels, red arrows ets. if I got a chance.

My original question does stand purely out of curiosity.

Skinnykenyan

I think the states official stance is of non-beligerance.. So not neutral