Transport Aircraft

I wonder what it would take for us to start acting like a grown up mature country

Would also assume those countries have lists of people who they would like to fly out but don't have the capacity for, without having other countries asking for seats too

well given we don't have any transport aircraft of our own and damn all chance of chartering one willing to fly in to Kabul then asking another EU member to our citizens on one of their flights is definitely easier than the alternative.

Cheap smd cheerful.

"There is no commercial airline options out of Kabul Airport now and so the way to get people out is essentially military aircraft and we are working with other European countries in particular, to try to ensure, that when aircraft are sent, that they will not only bring back their own citizens, but that they'll bring back other Europeans, ie Irish citizens as well"

A transcript of the entire contribution by Simon Coveney to the RTÉ news bulletins this evening.

I hope he felt the appropriate level of burning shame that he should have while making that comment.

Very interesting that. They seem to be ex DAC charters to the UN, flown mainly in Africa.

I'd be reticent enough about them though, even for less than 20 mill each. Why are they being sold on? What's their service history, in what sort of harsh environments?

As much as I respect 235s and 295s, they're neither very big nor very leggy, so I'd sooner see one ex-Military C-130, well minded by a friendly nation brought into service for its range, its capacity, its sheer versatility.

Just like you see C47s still knocking about now, I just feel that when 295s and Spartans and A400s are all gone to the boneyard, there will still be Hercs lumbering around, refusing to die. And given Irish Govt procurement leads, that's no bad thing.

It's safe to assume those commercial flights were massively oversubscribed from that point on, until they ceased.

I don't disagree, but I think the pandemic and the rise in natural and humanitarian disasters, not to mention the delays in repatriating Irish overseas units, have shown a clear need for something like a Hercules.

If the Govt just grew a set and said, 'we are buying a new plane for reasons x,y and z, we don't have anything in the fleet currently that will do the job and buying more of the same type won't either, so get over it.'

If worse came to past and the government cant get a lift for the irish there and they had to send rangers out to get them like cathal berry is sayng, Could they look to a private military contractor to fly them out and back?

Coughs....CIA.....Coughs

military aircraft operated by "civilian" pilots. no civilian aircraft.

Just left Kabul.

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10237294

They may have for now but between lack of spares and people I’d imagine they are going to quickly enough end up as fancy lawn furniture, or blown to bits on the way out by the Americans.