Bright and early on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday May 25 th 2009, a group of

Transcription

1 NIAG VISIT TO THE IRISH AIR CORPS. Bright and early on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday May 25 th 2009, a group of 18 NIAG members left Sprucefield for what proved to be an interesting and enjoyable visit to the Dublin area.. The principal focus of our trip was the Irish Air Corps base at Baldonnel but we were also able to include Dublin Airport and Weston Executive Airport in our itinerary. Our bus arrived on the perimeter road at Dublin Airport just in time for the photographers among us to catch the departure of ETIHAD Airbus A330 A6-EYR for Abu Dhabi. Quickly on the road again, we negotiated the Dublin suburban traffic to arrive on time at Weston Executive Airport, where we were met and warmly greeted by Vanessa Cunningham, on behalf of our hosts. The necessary formalities dealt with smoothly and efficiently, our party went airside and had a full tour of the airfield that included the aircraft of the Irish Pilot Training College, a selection of business jets, helicopters and the range of General Aviation types that are based at Weston.

2 However, some airframes were particularly interesting for our group, many of whom were first time visitors to the airfield. Weston s famous Buccaneer S2 XV863 was one such example. It is clearly visible from the Car Park but we certainly welcomed the opportunity to take clear,uncluttered photographs on the ramp. Members with long memories may have logged the aircraft at RNAY Sydenham during its maintenance visits in 1971 and The aircraft saw active service during the Gulf War in 1991 before becoming gate guardian at RAF Lossiemouth in After being replaced by a Tornado, the aircraft was acquired for 5,300 by the Christine Keane Museum, Weston where it remains an eye catching attraction for any visitor taxiing in towards the terminal building.

3 Located in a hangar nearby were two other veteran aircraft. Painted up as US Air Force A, Southern Comfort, the Beech C-45h Expeditor is G-BSZC (c/n AF-258) and built in Lovingly maintained and shining bright silver, the aircraft afforded excellent views of its cabin and cockpit.

4 Close to the C45 sat Grumman Goose N4575C, manufactured in March 1945 (c/n B120). Having completed our tour of the Weston hangars and aprons members of the group availed of the fine views and food on offer in Weston s terminal restaurant.others returned to our bus to prepare for the visit to Casement Aerodrome at Baldonnel.. Active traffic on the base s Tower frequency confirmed that this was a normal busy working day for the Irish Air Corps and there was an audible groan when we heard one of the Casa CN235 aircraft leaving for what proved to be an extended mission. Any temporary disappointment was soon dispelled by the warmth of our greeting from Lieutenant Colonel Gerry O Sullivan when we arrived on time at 2pm at the main gate.

5 He left our party in the capable and informative hands of Corporal Declan M Guinness, who conducted us on our tour of the base. We began with a visit to the hangar in which the aircraft of 102 (Ministerial Transport Squadron) are housed. Gulfstream IV, serial 251, was open for inspection and happy NIAG members lounged in the luxurious seats, more used to senior Ministers and Heads of State. From here we proceeded to the main apron where, in overcast conditions, our photographers grappled with their low shutter speed buttons to snap the Cessna 172s of 104 (Army Co-operation Squadron) and the Agusta 139 and Eurocopter EC 135 helicopters of 301 and 302 Squadrons respectively, with their dark olive green colours and black serials.

6 The most active aircraft were the Pilatus PC9Ms of The Flying Training School, busily bashing the circuit and with their notably brighter markings. Corporal M Guinness conducted us from the apron through a series of hangars,in which maintenance work was being undertaken on the full range of IAC types. Personnel worked, seemingly oblivious to the large and mobile group that had descended on their labours. Towards the end of the tour we were led to a hangar that enclosed some interesting retired aircraft, notably Magisters and Alouette 3s in various stages of disrepair, on which trainees were learning their trades.

7 Within that same hangar sat the historic Avro Cadet C7, built in 1934, returned by sea to Ireland in 2007 and restored to flying condition after 40 years in storage in New Zealand. The Avro, which served the IAC between 1934 and 1945, mounted coastal patrols during the Second World War and is the oldest existing former Irish Air Corps aircraft. We completed our tour with a visit to the fascinating Historical Museum packed, not only with aircraft, but with memorabilia, documents,uniforms and photographs that evoke the achievements of the Irish Air Corps and its part in Irish life since its inception.

8 191 De Havilland Vampire T Fouga CM170R Magister Chipmunk T20 On leaving the facility,cpl. McGuinness drew our attention to the granite commemoration stone marking the spot from where the Junkers W33 Bremen aircraft left on the first non-stop East to West crossing of the Atlantic on April12,1928.

9 Members thanked our hosts for the interesting tour and our party made its way northwards, stopping briefly at the Dublin Airport perimeter road to view the teatime arrivals under darkening skies. NIAG offers grateful thanks to: The Irish Air Corps, Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel, County Dublin and Weston Executive Airport, Leixlip, County Kildare. Thanks also to NIAG s Jack Woods who arranged and co-ordinated the visits.