On 14th March 2006 Jetwash Aviation Photo's visited the Irish Air Corps at Baldonnel to get a closer look at this small but varied air arm. We were not disappointed. Our thanks must go to Flight Sargeant Michael J. Kelly for arranging our visit and to the personel who escorted us for being such wonderful and cheerful hosts. We visited all of the operational areas together with the base museum and stored aircraft. Every one of the Irish Air Corps and Garda's aircraft were present except Gulfstream 251 and PC-9M 263, which was with Pilatus in Switzerland for an overhaul.
Cessna FR.172H of 104 Sqn
Stored SF.260WE's awaiting a buyer. The aircraft were sold in 2007 and all but one has now left.
255 AS.355N Ecureuil of the Garda on the flightline after an early morning mission
All Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) aircraft are flown by Air Corps personnel under the guise of 106 Sqn
Last operational SA.365F Dauphin 301 Sqn. These are being replaced by the EC.135's and AW.139's
Initially introduced in June 1986, five such aircraft entered service with one sadly being lost in accident on 2nd July 1999
SA.316B Alouette 3 of 302 Sqn. These aircraft have been in use since 1963.
The Irish Air Corps currently operates two Casa CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. They entered service in 1994 and operate seven days a week usually in the off-shore maritime patrol arena. Working in close conjunction with the Naval Service, the two Casa CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft of 101 Squadron provide an aerial platform for patrolling the Irish Economic Zone, an area of approximately 132,000 square miles or 16% of the total EU sea fisheries.
Britten-Norman BN.2T Defender of the Garda
The Air Corps currently operates five Cessna FR172H aircraft, entering service in 1972. The vast majority of operations in which the Cessna FR172H aircraft are involved is aerial surveillance and monitoring of cash, prisoner & explosive escorts. Additionally, a vital communications link is provided to ground units which may not otherwise be achievable during operations in remote and mountainous areas. Excellent slow flight characteristics coupled with an endurance in excess of four hours makes these aircraft an ideal platform for such operations.
EC.135T-1 of ther Garda undergoing maintenance to the infra red camera.
Since our visit a further EC.135 has joined the GASU fleet at Baldonnel
Learjet 45 of 102 VIP Squadron. This aircraft entered service in 2004 and usually operates in the Ministerial Air Transport role. In addition to its transport role, the Learjet regularly carries out national and international patient transfer services in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children. In order to do so the aircraft can be modified within an hour, whereby seats are removed from its interior allowing a fully independent Lifeport stretcher system to be installed in the cabin. This allows patients to be transferred directly from an ambulance to the aircraft by use of a specially modified loading ramp. The Lifeport stretcher system then provides a fully independent electrical, oxygen, vacumn and air source to medical personnel on board the aircraft for the patient transfer. The system is designed to transport patients requiring advanced life support.
The PC-9M is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT-6A turboprop engine. These aircraft first entered service in 2004 and operate as the main pilot training aircraft for the Irish Air Corps, and are equipped with a comprehensive, fully tandem-capable VFR/IFR avionics package for navigation, communication and identification. The PC-9M features modern avionics including a Head Up Display (HUD) and Electronic Flight Instrumentation System (EFIS) where primary instruments are displayed. The PC-9M is fitted with a Martin-Baker CG-A Ejection Seat which provides safe escape for the pilot from sea level to its operational ceiling at any airspeed greater than 65 knots. Its roles include ab-initio pilot training, advanced pilot training, instructor pilot training and close air support
PC-9M in the maintenance hanger.
The first PC-9 arrived at Baldonnel in April 2004, replacing the venerable Fouga CM.170 Magister.
One of the newly arrived EC.135P-2's on the ramp. The first one being delivered in November 2005. Its sister ship (270) was also present on the platform during our visit. On completion of the ‘Wings’ course, students will be streamed into either fixed-wing or rotary wing operations. The EC.135 will be utilised as the main ab-initio rotary wing training aircraft for the IAC. A typical rotary wing conversion course lasts approximately six months during which students will complete a variety of military rotary wing operations such as absailing drills, cargo slinging, mountain flying and tactical formation.
Thanks goes to Flight Sargeant Michael J. Kelly for arranging our visit to Baldonnel
A log of the aircraft seen during our visit can be found here: