Transport Aircraft

Larbre34

100%.

DoD should be on expressing interest immediately.

roadmaster

They would probably need 3 to keep 1 running to allow for Services and training. They could hire in former USAF crew to fly them tempoary untill air corps crew where trained up. They use to have an amercian flying the Gulfstream at one stage

Larbre34

You're correct, but they won't buy 3.

We had 1 King Air, 1 G4, 1 L45, we'll be lucky to get one C-130J

In fairness it doesn't need to be available 100% of the time, so significant standby and maintenence time can be built into its service. Its not like spares are scarce.

Grassy Knoll

It is defo getting to make your mind up time … these planes present a strong option if we are ever going to get transport craft, though I had thought while a refurb program had started, it was not fully complete on all of these ? If done all the better… but the Brits will have a queue for these so there will be no time to dally… if serious …

The suspicion would be, although a more limited craft, we go Casa for commonality … we may missed the boat on a few decent specimens already …

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119787057#Comment_119787057

A couple of these C130-J aircraft ? Seems like an obvious choice. Wonder how old they are ?

jonnybigwallet

Well they can rule out buying another new C295. India has just put in a massive order, so back of the queue!

Dohvolle

My flying friends tell me the C130-J is expensive to maintain, and would present a sizeable maintenance load, should we ever decide to go down that route.

We'd expect to be sending whatever we got back to Cambridge for most line maintenance.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119789427#Comment_119789427

We had 3 Kingairs at one point, we just ended up selling 2 that were worn out.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119790039#Comment_119790039

I'm far too young to remember that.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119790037#Comment_119790037

Does anything in that ballpark come relatively cheap to maintain? Bearing in mind the size difference in something like a C27 and the very long waiting list for new book orders as Jonny says, not to mention bloody procurement.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119790626#Comment_119790626

And to think wasn't it around 2000 when the AC started trying to lobby for a C130? Imagine like so much else if the DF had the investment like other sectors during the Tiger years what we might be discussing now...

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119790626#Comment_119790626

Embraer C390 has the same (2, not 4) engines as your average commuter aircraft in use by many airlines in the UK and Ireland. It also has the same cockpit.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119790621#Comment_119790621

True, it was in my mind ONLY 30 years ago.

We had 2 in Maritime Patrol, 232 retired in 1992 with over 5000 salty hours on the airframe, and 234 left in 1991 with similar hours. The third one (240) was the standby VIP aircraft but was used for everything except maritime patrol. All 3 were delivered in 1977/78. I believe all 3 are still flying in the USA,

jonnybigwallet

I like that KC 390 big time. Availability is good a Brazil airforce have reduced their order.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119790906#Comment_119790906

I agree, but tbf, a lot was procured in that time; the 80 Mowags, replacement of the rotary fleet, Javelins, new base facilities, uniform updates etc.

Yes, proportionately less than other sectors, but still some.

Larbre34

I don't like the C-390, for many reasons. Chief among them is the necessity to procure them from the administration of that piece of s**t Bolsonaro.

Yes I know daSilva may be back in power in a few weeks, assuming Bolsonaro doesn't stage a coup, but even still, Brazil are still expecting delivery of 19 airframes, a drop of just 3 from their original order and only 8 examples of the type have been completed in total thus far, so the wait will still be considerable.

Honestly I think all defence spending should be done in Europe, or at least through European licencees, to support our own markets and to guarantee quality and good business practices.

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119791509#Comment_119791509

Ah yes, the "Evening Heralds", if you know, you know.

EchoIndia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119791509#Comment_119791509

Of the three King Airs:

232 was flying in the USA for many years but was exported to Mexico in 2012. Current status not known.

234 is flying in Canada as C-GNNR and flies daily, it appears. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/c-gnnr

240 was sold to a dealer for parts circa 2012 and scrapped at Baldonnel, with 16,000+ hours on the airframe.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119793179#Comment_119793179

Whereas the C130J is built in....

Its a new aircraft, Brazil took the hit being the launch customer. Portugal took delivery of their first last week, NL have selected if over the C130J as their next military transport.

Bolsonaro is like trump. He'll soon be dead/in prison and by the time the aircraft are getting their MLU will be a distant memory. However, if you don't like dealing with tinpot dictator regimes, how about the Kawasaki C-2? A viable option now Japan is exporting military equipment again.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119793090#Comment_119793090

Those were the days. Ironically most of those things mentioned now again due for replacement.

Larbre34

The Kawasaki is an ideal aircraft. Basically a KC-390 scaled up 130%.

However the price isn't 130% more.

Its 350%!

roadmaster

Somebody call the guards it looks like the French PC21s are taking one on the air corps pc12s home with them

jonnybigwallet

Scramble the Irish Strike Force!

Dohvolle

Maybe we'll get a Falcon 8x back.

roadmaster

Thats twice they have being here in the last few months

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796177#Comment_119796177

Nav Exercises & Visits.

Larbre34

Sounds like preparation for the forward deployment of French Air Force assets on a bilateral basis to Ireland in the event of major North Atlantic hostilities to me....

jonnybigwallet

Talking about French Air Force assets....been reading up on the Dassault Rafale. I know they are damned pricey, but I gather it's one of the very best out there and is a true multiple plane.

jonnybigwallet

Multirole

jonnybigwallet

https://theaviationist.com/2022/10/25/first-kc-390-in-portugal/