Helicopter Exhibition Ireland?

[Robino]

Heard a rumour of a Heli Exhibition for Ireland next year! Anyone any news of whats happening, please post.

[swisstony]

Sounds like a good idea considering the market at present

the guys at Premier Aviation would be the men to put that together considering Weston Airport and its ideal facility for a mini Duxford!

[Robino]

Looks like the venue will be Punchestown Exhibition Centre, wonder will they run it at the time as the racing festival considering all the Helis that visit!

[Robino]

Maybe this exhibition is a good idea afterall, allows UK agents to show there wares in a very bouyant marketplace:D

Anyone know dates etc or exhibition info/contacts? i heard Premier Aviation at Weston may be involved.

[swisstony]

Looks like its on 6th - 8th June 2007 at Punchestown

[whaey]

http://www.premieraviation.ie/companydetails/news.html

http://www.irishheliexpo.com/

[Robino]

Also heard through the rumour mill Agusta Westland Italy are bringing over a 139 because of the irish order book;)

[scooter boy]

Apparently it has been converted to run entirely on potato based fuel!

SB

[Vertical T/O]

Oh I see what you did Scooter Boy. You used our potato famine as a joke so that you could make fun of the Irish. Very smart. Did you think this up by yourself or did Mother and Father help. You sad little boy.

[Chickenhawk1]

...well it was either going to be potatoes or whiskey, the stereotype being what it is.
This expo is great news, who'd of thought such a thing would/ could take place in Ireland? It's no wonder Agusta are sending a 139, it was a fairly healthy air corp order and from what I saw in 'Flying in Ireland' this month they can be well kitted out. Anyone know if the option on the third pair is to be taken up?

[Vertical T/O]

Irish Aer Corp get 6 AW-139s in Total. Great news.


€24m chopper deal to revamp Force
Sunday Independent
03/12/2006
DON LAVERY

TWO more high-tech Anglo-Italian armed helicopters are to be bought for the Air Corps in a €24m deal in the latest revamp of the force's outmoded fleet.

Defence Minister Willie O'Dea is to indicate that an option to buy two more AW-139 helicopters, which will have a primary role of operating and training with Ireland's Special Forces, is to be taken up before the end of the year.

The move comes after the first two of four AW-139 helicopters ordered in an earlier €48m contract were shown to the media last week.

One of the helicopters displayed at a blustery Baldonnel was kitted out in a Special Forces role with two GPMG machine guns manned by air gunners, and seats for eight Army Rangers along with abseiling equipment.

A second helicopter was configured as a 15-seat transporter. Two other helicopters ordered as part of the earlier contract will be delivered in spring next year.

The Minister resisted the urge to sit behind a machine gun and instead went for a flight in the new aircraft. He will announce that a down payment will be made on the two optional aircraft before the end of the year.

Otherwise Ireland would miss its production slot for the AW-139, which is the best-selling helicopter in the medium twin-engine class in the world, and additional Irish aircraft would not be built until 2009/2010.

The Air Corps is the first military force in the world to operate the AW-139.

The latest plan to acquire more helicopters comes at the end of an unprecedented three-year spending spree which has seen orders placed for nearly €170m-worth of new aircraft.