Irish Air Corps - what's going on here ?
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The IAC's Learjet 45 has just celebrated its 20th birthday. It's a frequent sight over this side of the water, for obvious reasons, but it hasn't been seen much over the last 3 months or so.
This hissy-fit seems to arise from the Learjet being unavailable to take a minister from Dublin to Brussels. Anyone else flying that route (those without private aircraft) have to endure airport hassle and then the delights of Aer Lingus or even Ryanair. Perhaps the minister should try that experience?
Spending money on Aer Corps equipment always terrifies Irish Governments. This Learjet was always the second fiddle to a Gulstream IV until that needed major overhaul in the Gulfstream factory. The Government dithered over whether to spend the required funds on the airframe until Gulfstream told them to make up their mind, whereupon it was sold to Gulfstream for apittance along with various spares (including an engine), who then overhauled it and sold it at a massive profit.
That Gulstream was supposed to be replaced by an A319 a few years earlier, but the public backlash ended that. This LJ likely has the most cycles of any in the world (like the Gulf IV did).
That Gulstream was supposed to be replaced by an A319 a few years earlier, but the public backlash ended that. This LJ likely has the most cycles of any in the world (like the Gulf IV did).
Nearly all the opposition in Ireland is very leftwing so a government jet is easy ammo despite the fact that every state has an air transport arm in the military, every incoming government will keep one and the aircraft is multi role (it is a highly effective air ambulance).
All AIC equipment tends to be very multi role anyway, such is the nature of operation.
All AIC equipment tends to be very multi role anyway, such is the nature of operation.
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Look over there !
Nearly all the opposition in Ireland is very leftwing so a government jet is easy ammo despite the fact that every state has an air transport arm in the military, every incoming government will keep one and the aircraft is multi role (it is a highly effective air ambulance).
All AIC equipment tends to be very multi role anyway, such is the nature of operation.
All AIC equipment tends to be very multi role anyway, such is the nature of operation.
The following users liked this post:
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Look over there !
It’s not their own defence - there is no aerial threat to Ireland except the one made up by those with vested interests - & the dublin zoo “meerkats” who watch too much TV. If the UK govt decides Irish airspace is a threat corridor to them then they should police it & pay for it. The biggest “threat” would be an air to air collision with an airliner or similar catastrophic mishap involving civilians by a fighter more than likely by a homegrown operator or far less likely by one of a neighbouring state -and that increased risk is precisely why Ireland should not squander tax payers money on a deluded doomed project to protect UK airspace. Only an idiot would spend vast sums of money on something already provided competently for free for which there is no actual need .
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Hell hath no fury like a politician denied his/her trip on a private jet.
It’s not their own defence - there is no aerial threat to Ireland except the one made up by those with vested interests - & the dublin zoo “meerkats” who watch too much TV. If the UK govt decides Irish airspace is a threat corridor to them then they should police it & pay for it. The biggest “threat” would be an air to air collision with an airliner or similar catastrophic mishap involving civilians by a fighter more than likely by a homegrown operator or far less likely by one of a neighbouring state -and that increased risk is precisely why Ireland should not squander tax payers money on a deluded doomed project to protect UK airspace. Only an idiot would spend vast sums of money on something already provided competently for free for which there is no actual need .
(But next time, please don't sugar coat it. Tell us how you really feel.
)It’s not their own defence - there is no aerial threat to Ireland except the one made up by those with vested interests - & the dublin zoo “meerkats” who watch too much TV. If the UK govt decides Irish airspace is a threat corridor to them then they should police it & pay for it. The biggest “threat” would be an air to air collision with an airliner or similar catastrophic mishap involving civilians by a fighter more than likely by a homegrown operator or far less likely by one of a neighbouring state -and that increased risk is precisely why Ireland should not squander tax payers money on a deluded doomed project to protect UK airspace. Only an idiot would spend vast sums of money on something already provided competently for free for which there is no actual need .
This is best illustrated by their beggar-your-neighbour international corporate tax policies ( happily now finally stamped out by EU) and the " defence policy " discussed in this thread.They should be flushed down the toilet until they recognise how to become an acceptable state. They are the N European equivalent of Hungary.
Last edited by Tartiflette Fan; 7th Feb 2024 at 11:17.
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The Irish government recognisied some long time ago that Nature has shown the best way for an easy life.....be a parasite.
This is best illustrated by their beggar-your-neighbour international corporate tax policies ( happily now coming to an end ) and the " defence policy " discussed in this thread.They should be flushed down the toilet until they recognise how to become an acceptable state. They are the N European equivalent of Hungary.
This is best illustrated by their beggar-your-neighbour international corporate tax policies ( happily now coming to an end ) and the " defence policy " discussed in this thread.They should be flushed down the toilet until they recognise how to become an acceptable state. They are the N European equivalent of Hungary.
The Irish government recognised some long time ago that Nature has shown the best way for an easy life.....be a parasite.
This is best illustrated by their beggar-your-neighbour international corporate tax policies ( happily now finally stamped out by EU) and the " defence policy " discussed in this thread.They should be flushed down the toilet until they recognise how to become an acceptable state. They are the N European equivalent of Hungary.
This is best illustrated by their beggar-your-neighbour international corporate tax policies ( happily now finally stamped out by EU) and the " defence policy " discussed in this thread.They should be flushed down the toilet until they recognise how to become an acceptable state. They are the N European equivalent of Hungary.
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As Lear are no longer building jets it will be interesting how long they will be supported, damned awful things to work on.
To perhaps re-jig a phrase from a well-known film " What has Ireland ever done for NATO ? "
Last edited by Tartiflette Fan; 7th Feb 2024 at 14:04.
Ireland and their situation may be more like Costa Rica, who have no army. (Ireland has an Army, and they do contribute to some UN peacekeeping operations).
They have done a risk assessment and have so far found their risk versus expected result to arrive at "don't need an Air Force / Air Defense Fighters" for reasons peculiar to their situation.
Ticos are extremely proud of the fact that they have no army. Costa Ricans put effort into differentiating themselves from many of their more troubled and violent neighbors as well as their social, political, cultural, and environmental progressive policies. Civil war has not erupted in Costa Rica since 1948. In this same period, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador have all had civil wars and poured a lot of money into their military. Similarly, Panama has had significant problems with a military coup in the 1980s, and only disbanded their army in 1996. Now, they are becoming more stable.