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List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps

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Air Corps AgustaWestland AW139

This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated or have formerly been operated by the Irish Air Corps.

Active Irish military aircraft

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Military aircraft currently in active service with the Irish Air Corps are as follows:

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Maritime Patrol
CASA C-295 Spain maritime patrol MSA 2[1]
Reconnaissance
Britten-Norman Defender United Kingdom police air support 4000 1[2][1] Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU)[3]
DHC-6 Twin Otter Canada police air support Guardian 400 One on order for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) to replace the Britten-Norman Defender.[4][5]
Pilatus PC-12 Switzerland surveillance PC-12NG 4[6][1] Three 'SPECTRE' surveillance variants[7], and one utility variant[8]
Transport
CASA C-295 Spain transport One on order[9][1]
Learjet 45 United States executive transport 1[10] Tender for replacement aircraft listed in November 2023.[11]
Helicopter
AgustaWestland AW139 Italy utility 6[12][1]
Eurocopter EC135 Germany utility / trainer EC135 P2 2[13][1]
Eurocopter EC135 Germany police air support EC135 T2 2[14] Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU)[3]
Trainer
Pilatus PC-9 Switzerland trainer / CAS PC-9M 8[15][1] One hull lost in 2009 was replaced in 2017[16]
Several Pilatus PC-9M aircraft at Baldonnel

Retired Irish military aircraft

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A few examples of former Air Corps aircraft are retained in the Air Corps Museum in Baldonnel. These include an Avro Anson, An Alouette III and a Fouga Magister. A De Havilland Vampire and a Miles Magister are on display in the National Museum in Collins Barracks (Dublin).[17]

Military aircraft which have been withdrawn from service with the Irish Air Corps include the following:

Fighter and attack aircraft

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Air Corps Spitfire T.9 trainer wearing the early post war green colour scheme
Gloster Gladiator Mk I of the 1st Squadron of the Irish Air Corps

Bombers

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Reconnaissance and patrol aircraft

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Transport and liaison aircraft

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An Avro 652A Anson which operated from 1946 to 1962

Trainer aircraft

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Percival Provost Mk 51 in Air Corps colours

Helicopters

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Air Corps Alouette III. Retired in 2007

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. ^ "PBN Defender". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "The Garda Air Support Unit". garda.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Garda purchases sophicated surveillance aircraft from Canadian manufacturer". irishtimes.ie. 2024-08-03. Archived from the original on 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  5. ^ "De Havilland Canada's Twin Otter Guardian Aircraft Chosen for Enhanced Operational Capabilities". dehavilland.com. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  6. ^ "Pilatus PC-12". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Irish Air Corps New PC-12's Arrive in Baldonnel". flyinginireland.com. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Air Corps to Take Delivery of Pilatus PC-12 Today". flyinginireland.com. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Third Airbus Defence C295 Confirmed for the Air Corps". flyinginireland.com. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Learjet 45". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Tender Notice Published for New Government Jet". flyinginireland.com. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  12. ^ "AW139". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  13. ^ "EC135 P2". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  14. ^ "EC135 T2". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Pilatus PC-9M". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Air Corps receive new Pilatus PC-9M". flyinginireland.com. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  17. ^ Tony Canavan (January 2007). "Museum Eye – Soldiers and chiefs, the Irish at war – National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, Dublin". Reviews. 15 (1). History Ireland.
  18. ^ Byrne 1980, p. 52.
  19. ^ O'Malley 2010, p. 57.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l MacCarron 2012, p. 20.
  21. ^ a b MacCarron 2012, p. 18.
  22. ^ "Irish Army Air Corps use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War". Håkan Gustavsson. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  23. ^ Byrne 1980, p. 62.
  24. ^ McIvor 1994, p. 83.
  25. ^ O'Malley 2010, p. 148.
  26. ^ a b c d e "Air Corps Museum Collection (1918-2004)". Irish Military Archives. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Government jet sold to US company". RTE. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  28. ^ O'Malley 2010, p. 205.
  29. ^ McIvor 1994, p. 42.
  30. ^ "Military Archives – Image Database – IE/MA/ACPS/GPN/001 – Glass plate negatives of a ground image of an Avro 621". MilitaryArchives.ie. Defence Forces. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  31. ^ "Alouettes set for final missions". Irish Times. 28 July 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  32. ^ "New Wings for the Irish Air Corps". Air-Scene UK. May 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  33. ^ "Up, up and away . . . why our Air Corps are getting plenty of lift". Independent News & Media. 4 July 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  34. ^ "N86-1981- Air Corp Helicopters - Air Corps Takes Delivery Of Puma Helicoptor - July 1981". Irish Photo Archive. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Gazelle Retired" (PDF). An Cosantóir – Defence Forces Magazine. Irish Defence Forces. March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2022. On December 31st 2005 the last flight of Air Corps Gazelle 241 over Casement Aerodrome marked the end of 25 years of service
  36. ^ "Air Corps withdrawn from rescue work". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 11 October 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2020. [T]he Government is formally withdrawing the Air Corps from all helicopter search-and-rescue today [..] and will be relieved by the contract company CHC Helicopters in a week's time [..] The Sikorsky S-61 helicopter leased for the Air Corps in Sligo was returned several weeks ago
  37. ^ "Second Garda helicopter takes to air". Irish Times. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

Sources

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