avatar_Geoff

Irish Air Corps

Started by Geoff, February 03, 2023, 03:26:59 AM

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Weaver

Ireland decides it likes the T.11s and goes for a full spectrum of Vampires, adding FB.5 single-seat fighter bombers and NF.10 night fighters.
"Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot."
 - Sandman: A Midsummer Night's Dream, by Neil Gaiman

"I dunno, I'm making this up as I go."
 - Indiana Jones

Weaver

#16
Article from 2020 about the Irish government studying the possibility of buying 16 interceptor aircraft due to continued Russian air space violations:

https://www.overtdefense.com/2020/07/02/ireland-contemplates-buying-new-interceptor-aircraft/

Feasible options strike me as:

Second-hand F-16s

Saab Gripens

Some sort of co-funded shared-fleet scheme with the UK that sees Irish-marked Typhoons stationed in Eire and flown (eventually) by Irish pilots, but using the RAF maintenance/logistics/training infrastructure. Makes military sense but might be a hard sell politically.
"Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot."
 - Sandman: A Midsummer Night's Dream, by Neil Gaiman

"I dunno, I'm making this up as I go."
 - Indiana Jones

Geoff

#17
Perhaps some leased F-16ADVs from the boneyard?
Or maybe a joint EU funded effort with EU forces air policing Irish air space
Alternatively are there any Swiss F-5s still in storage for lease?

Geoff

Quote from: Geoff on February 04, 2023, 07:44:17 AMPerhaps some leased F-16ADVs from the boneyard?
Or maybe a joint EU funded effort with EU forces air policing Irish air space
Alternatively are there any Swiss F-5s still in storage for lease?

I have been reading that Brazilian F-5Es could not pick up a Vulcan with their airborne radar and needed GCI. So I suspect the Tigers would not be a good choice.
Legacy Hornets anyone? Was wondering about operating costs though.

scooter

Quote from: Geoff on February 05, 2023, 05:05:50 AM
Quote from: Geoff on February 04, 2023, 07:44:17 AMPerhaps some leased F-16ADVs from the boneyard?
Or maybe a joint EU funded effort with EU forces air policing Irish air space
Alternatively are there any Swiss F-5s still in storage for lease?

I have been reading that Brazilian F-5Es could not pick up a Vulcan with their airborne radar and needed GCI. So I suspect the Tigers would not be a good choice.
Legacy Hornets anyone? Was wondering about operating costs though.

$10-30k/hour (depending on source)
https://www.businessinsider.com/price-military-aircraft-per-flight-hour-2016-8#fa-18f-8
https://sofrep.com/fightersweep/the-real-cost-per-flight-hour-of-military-aircraft/
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Mossie

HAL Tejas as a dark horse. Unlikely, but good whiff fodder and they even share fin flashes.
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kitbasher

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PR19_Kit

Indeed, how ABOUT a J-29?  :thumbsup:
Kit's Rule 1 ) Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings, and/or a longer fuselage
Kit's Rule 2) The backstory can always be changed to suit the model

...and I'm not a closeted 'Take That' fan, I'm a REAL fan! :)

Regards
Kit

Geoff

#23
Quote from: scooter on February 05, 2023, 05:48:50 AM
Quote from: Geoff on February 05, 2023, 05:05:50 AM
Quote from: Geoff on February 04, 2023, 07:44:17 AMPerhaps some leased F-16ADVs from the boneyard?
Or maybe a joint EU funded effort with EU forces air policing Irish air space
Alternatively are there any Swiss F-5s still in storage for lease?

I have been reading that Brazilian F-5Es could not pick up a Vulcan with their airborne radar and needed GCI. So I suspect the Tigers would not be a good choice.
Legacy Hornets anyone? Was wondering about operating costs though.

$10-30k/hour (depending on source)
https://www.businessinsider.com/price-military-aircraft-per-flight-hour-2016-8#fa-18f-8
https://sofrep.com/fightersweep/the-real-cost-per-flight-hour-of-military-aircraft/

Thanks
The Gripen is <US$5k/hour
The F-16 is around US$8K/hr, so that's a no-brainer
Also the Gripen only needs a maintenance crew of 6 (only 1 needs to be specialist) to turn around with 2 vehicles at a basic airfield. (This is according to Forbes)

AeroplaneDriver

Forget where I read it, but when the stories came out a couple of years ago that Ireland was looking at the possibility of a squadron of air defence aircraft on option tossed out along with used F-16s/Gripens/Typhoons was the Alenia M346.  It could fit the bill nicely and according to Alenia has about a tenth of the operating cost of something like a Typhoon.  I picked up the Kinetic kit during a sale with the intent of making it Irish at some point.  I really wish IAC decals weren't as rare as unicorn tears. 
So I got that going for me...which is nice....

PR19_Kit

Look for Maxx Decals, two Xs, they do a range of IAC decals in all sorts of scales, some all on the same sheet.
Kit's Rule 1 ) Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings, and/or a longer fuselage
Kit's Rule 2) The backstory can always be changed to suit the model

...and I'm not a closeted 'Take That' fan, I'm a REAL fan! :)

Regards
Kit

AeroplaneDriver

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 05, 2023, 12:22:21 PMLook for Maxx Decals, two Xs, they do a range of IAC decals in all sorts of scales, some all on the same sheet.

I have the Max Decals 1990-2010 sheet but after two builds it's getting a bit thin.  I'm pretty sure it's a single "x" in the name. Max not Maxx. 
So I got that going for me...which is nice....

Weaver

Quote from: AeroplaneDriver on February 05, 2023, 11:00:02 AMForget where I read it, but when the stories came out a couple of years ago that Ireland was looking at the possibility of a squadron of air defence aircraft on option tossed out along with used F-16s/Gripens/Typhoons was the Alenia M346.  It could fit the bill nicely and according to Alenia has about a tenth of the operating cost of something like a Typhoon.  I picked up the Kinetic kit during a sale with the intent of making it Irish at some point.  I really wish IAC decals weren't as rare as unicorn tears. 

The last Airfix re-pop of their Fouga Magister had Irish markings in it. You can pick them up pretty cheaply second-hand and still have a set of Belgian markings to finish the kit with.
"Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot."
 - Sandman: A Midsummer Night's Dream, by Neil Gaiman

"I dunno, I'm making this up as I go."
 - Indiana Jones

Geoff

I'm thinking of going with second hand F-16MLUs from Benelux countries as the support infrastructure is closer to Ireland and I have one in the stash even though I read that they tried to interest them in Block 70 F-16s

AeroplaneDriver

Quote from: Geoff on February 08, 2023, 10:06:48 AMI'm thinking of going with second hand F-16MLUs from Benelux countries as the support infrastructure is closer to Ireland and I have one in the stash even though I read that they tried to interest them in Block 70 F-16s

I think that would be the most realistic way for Ireland to get back into the Fighter game.  It seems the cheapest and easiest to achieve of the ideas tossed around.  Thought I'd put the first Gen Gripens being retired by Sweden as a close second best bet.  Both would be great Whifs.
So I got that going for me...which is nice....