Transport Aircraft

Yip 4+ 2

It's a navigation training flight. In any case this example was built in 1987!

Our nearest EU neighbour keeping a friendly eye on us …

It went Paris -> Cardiff -> Dublin .... was due to go to Belfast also, but flight details appear to show it back at Dublin?

edit: seems like there was a French VIP in Belfast... heading home on the A330 now.

false info, it overflew Belfast. Helo to Biggin for a refuel ... going via heli routes in London, deffo on a training jolly

They could do miles better having a look with an AWACS or Hawkeye instead of a poxy Puma..

Suppose they are kind of busy with actual NATO work…

The new 295's have a DAS system installed and you'd imagine the cargo 295 coming will too...

But a couple of questions are needing to be answered.

The MPA have great big LIDARs installed right behind the ramp protruding up through the deck, you won't be rolling anything bigger than a box out the back unless it's removed

Have any AC pilots airdropped para-loads from a fixed wing aircraft...ever? It's not something you learn in a morning.

Oh 100%...mostly just poking holes in Leo & MM over selling it.

They don't have a suitable plane. They need something bigger in the future. EG an Embraer 390.

I’m in two minds on this. Firstly good on one level to see IAC aircraft being deployed on different missions globally and showcasing the potential of what a modern, well equipped air force can offer. Also good for the crews involved.

However as has been indicated here, these planes are kitted out for a completely different function with what I understand to be state of the art equipment. Humping freight about in the Middle East means they are not performing their critical function over our maritime domain. Also we are not involved in the actual air drop as we are not equipped to do this … perhaps the transport C295 will offer this, or is it this type is too small to properly perform this function in a meaningful manner? Anyway the role if it goes ahead, will be symbolic in that assets of the State are supporting the humanitarian effort and politically helps answer the critics that we lack the equipment to perform such functions. Bottom line is we need to equip our services to deliver a meaningful role with proper equipment.

Apart from the fact that there was no way we could have stood up the people/supports needed to sustain a 130 operationally right now? And no the chances are there is no recognition of the limitations we have because of political choices, just as how nobody is going to look at the EU sending a ship now and the US talking about a port facility and go "maybe having the MRV would have allowed us to do something"...

And do we have a number of flight crews certified on C130s? How long would it take to train them up if not? Are they sitting around doing nothing or would it mean pulling flight crews from the 295s and reducing their operations to stand up a C 130? How is the supply chain for the support of a C 130 given it would be a new aircraft in AC service, do we have the spare ground crew for maintenance and support? Or they trained to support a C 130 right now (ie trained on supporting different engines, avionics etc)? If not how long does that take? Does the AC have the manpower available for all this as it stands?

There are plenty of issues beyond just buying the hardware, no matter how cheap the RAF were flogging them.

I’ll hazard a guess and say with a high degree of confidence no one is trained to operate or maintain a Herc in Baldonnel, but the point for me is they give a whole other level of capability to what a C295 can provide. Sure they mean a whole other different level of skills are required, but given what the C130:offers to have one in the fleet makes it worthwhile. There is no doubt one would be worked to bits, as were the C235s, but it could mean the C295s do what they were acquired for (and do it very well) and a C130 would be well occupied as a tactical transporter. Really it comes down to a case of horses (or planes) for courses …

obviously we took the easier option of a third of the type, and while better than nothing, does IMHO come with limitations.

The LIDAR is the big protruding Box in the floor with the hazard tape around it...it's a precision bit of Kit so you probably don't want to dismount it too much