Transport Aircraft

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119798603#Comment_119798603

I’m going with “not reallyL to “not a chance”.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119800018#Comment_119800018

I am going with the French Lads like the Carvery in Casements Mess

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119800018#Comment_119800018

Lets see if we all feel the same when a Squadron of Rafales and a Stratotanker turn up in the Don or Shannon on a 'Nav exercise'.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119801203#Comment_119801203

Didn't the Red Arrows have issues with the Don this year? The French like everyone else are fairly pushed in terms of numbers, unless we are going to pay for it I can’t see them doing a U.K…

roadmaster

They Rafales could do an extended good will visit!

I see the British have delayed the Puma replacement , could we also see the delayed retirements of there hercs as well?

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119801364#Comment_119801364

Haven’t the Hercs already gone up for disposal? The Puma replacement I presume is waiting for new tech/decisions.

Larbre34

It'll very much depend on whether the disposal of the Hercs, right now, would effect the optimum RAF airlift capacity.

It seems to be that all bar one of the 22 A400Ms have been delivered to the RAF, on top of the 8 C-17s that they operate, so I would imagine that the withdrawal of the Hercs will continue as programmed.

roadmaster

Would the Irish/ UK MOU for Defence extend to the sale of the hercs?

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119801732#Comment_119801732

I don't think it would have any bearing on a would-be purchase whatsoever.

The UK will, presumably, sell to any Country who isn't a military and political opponent.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119801732#Comment_119801732

I don't think it has produced anything of material significance since its inception. We thought at the time that we'd be able to buy into their vehicle orders, i.e they get 200 new 11 tonne 4x4 trucks, and we tag on our order of 20.

roadmaster

In an ideal world if we were buying somethig like the KC390 we should have euro MOU with our nations to buy an aircraft with 1 spec only. Imagine if us the Dutch and portuguse got together to buy the KC390 there would be saving in buying the aircraft and training

Mav11

15.40 Today

Larbre34

Interesting, a French Air Force CASA light transport so soon after the PC-21s.

Anyone would think a major cooperation contingency in the planning.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805113#Comment_119805113

We have always had an interesting partnership with the French

jonnybigwallet

Vive La France 🇫🇷!

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119798603#Comment_119798603

I wish, they overnighted then left again.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119806232#Comment_119806232

Course they did.

The PC-21s were piloted by a Squadron of Rafale C drivers, who were getting their bearings for when their jets are forward deployed to Casement.

If they had turned up in the Jets it would have created far too much of a stir!

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805113#Comment_119805113

That Casa was bringing a soccer team im told. Was a divert from Dublin.

jonnybigwallet

Probably PSG...

sparky42

The UK is ruling out its floated idea of buying a followup tranche of A400's due to budget constraints but the Herc sale will continue.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/plans-to-buy-more-transport-aircraft-scrapped-due-to-cost/

tippilot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119945562#Comment_119945562

And the Greeks have expressed interest in acquiring the surplus Hercs. You snooze, you lose.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119946127#Comment_119946127

Nobody ever explained exactly how the AC could in any reasonable length of time scale to support even one Hercules when we are struggling with just standing still there as well?

I can just imagine the opposition if we had bought a couple and left them sitting on the tarmac…

Dohvolle

Hercs were always going to be a huge burden on staff space and operating costs. There's a reason NL went with the C390 instead.

EchoIndia

I imagine Greece is in the market for a fleet of C-130Js, not just one or two. They have operated over a dozen of the type over the decades but have only seven or so left flying at the moment. They are also a NATO member, so that may count for something as well.

roadmaster

I see one of the PC12s is on the way back from finland. They are really making the most of them

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044313#Comment_120044313

Wonder what they were doing up there at this time of the year?

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044638#Comment_120044638

Nordic Battlegroup?

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044957#Comment_120044957

Aren’t we meant to be part of the German led one next?

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044975#Comment_120044975

Not sure, still part of the Nordic one though.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044638#Comment_120044638

Seeing Santa?

Yeah those PC12s are serious work horses. I do get the heebee-jeebies a bit at the amount of long range single engine ops they undertake, I must say. Not that I doubt the engineering of the plane, the maintenance or the aircrew.

I'd just be much happier with a bigger twin-engined transport for some of these excursions to Africa and the sub-Arctic and whatnot.