New EC135 for Irish Lights
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New EC135 for Irish Lights
Heard a rumour the two bolkows are to be replaced with their own in house machine and that they are thinking about an EC135.
Anyone else heard anything, such as dates, planned colour scheme? Anything?????
Anyone else heard anything, such as dates, planned colour scheme? Anything?????
Yea, EC135 ordered and due for delivery this year, sometime. Don't know if its a T2 or P2 ordered. It probably will be the death knell for the BO-105 in Ireland. Irish Helicopters Ltd will operate it on behalf of Irish Lights. They (Irish Lights) reckon they need the machine for approx 600 hours per annum. Irish Helicopters will probably have additional work for it as well. No word on the colour scheme but hopefully it will be as attractive as the current BO-105 scheme. After the Alouette III, the BO-105 is probably the longest serving type still operational in Ireland so it'll be sad to see these little workers go as well.
Photo of Irish Lights/Irish Helicopters Ltd EC135.
Here is a link to a photo of this new helicopter, Eurocopter EC135 T2+ EI-ILS, that will be used on Lighthouse Support Operations here in Ireland. I believe it will directly replace the BO-105CBS EI-LIT currently in use. Not sure if the other BO, EI-BLD, will be retained for the next while or not. The EC135 officially starts work for the Commissioners of Irish Lights on the 1st of December 2008.
Photo of Eurocopter EC135T2, EI-ILS, Irish Helicopters
Can anyone outline the differences between an EC135T2 and the T2+ version? Is it just an upgrade in avionics or are more powerful engines fitted as well? Thanks.
500 Fan.
Photo of Eurocopter EC135T2, EI-ILS, Irish Helicopters
Can anyone outline the differences between an EC135T2 and the T2+ version? Is it just an upgrade in avionics or are more powerful engines fitted as well? Thanks.
500 Fan.
Can anyone outline the differences between an EC135T2 and the T2+ version? Is it just an upgrade in avionics or are more powerful engines fitted as well? Thanks.
skadi
Skadi, thanks for the info.
Apparently, Irish Helicopters Ltd have been serving the Commissioners of Irish Lights for 39 years now. They started with the Alouette III (EI-ATO and EI-AVI), then a host of BO-105s (EI-AWB, EI-BDI, EI-BLD, EI-BTE and EI-LIT) and now this EC135. I have been doing some research into the past IHL fleet and apparently a Hiller UH-12 was trialled by the Commissioner of Irish Lights in 1959. The CIL people didn't think much of the Killer-Hiller and didn't enter into a contract. That Hiller was registered to a company called Irish Helicopters and was sold in 1960. No other helicopter was registered to IHL again until 1968 (on the Irish Register, at least), so I'm not sure if the people behind the Hiller were the same people that started ops in '68. In 1966, the Shannon-based company Trans World Helicopters also did some work for the CIL, with a float-equipped Hughes 300.
Irish Helicopters Ltd is also celebrating 40 years of operations this year, so well done, Lads.
500 Fan (Heli-Anorak).
Apparently, Irish Helicopters Ltd have been serving the Commissioners of Irish Lights for 39 years now. They started with the Alouette III (EI-ATO and EI-AVI), then a host of BO-105s (EI-AWB, EI-BDI, EI-BLD, EI-BTE and EI-LIT) and now this EC135. I have been doing some research into the past IHL fleet and apparently a Hiller UH-12 was trialled by the Commissioner of Irish Lights in 1959. The CIL people didn't think much of the Killer-Hiller and didn't enter into a contract. That Hiller was registered to a company called Irish Helicopters and was sold in 1960. No other helicopter was registered to IHL again until 1968 (on the Irish Register, at least), so I'm not sure if the people behind the Hiller were the same people that started ops in '68. In 1966, the Shannon-based company Trans World Helicopters also did some work for the CIL, with a float-equipped Hughes 300.
Irish Helicopters Ltd is also celebrating 40 years of operations this year, so well done, Lads.
500 Fan (Heli-Anorak).
Last edited by 500 Fan; 10th Nov 2008 at 15:14.
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irish lights bolkow
I saw today for the first time the new EC135 ... so silent ... having grown up with the sound of the bolkow every week as a child i will indeed miss the sound of it.what happens to that bolkow now? does anybody know?
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I saw today for the first time the new EC135 ... so silent
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just found the answer.... Irish Lights new EC135
Irish Lights EC135 in detail.
Here are a few photos of EI-ILS.
Chunky-looking rear view mirror.
Underside of tailboom with various refinements.
All four skid legs have these tie-down points.
The fuselage underside is well tricked-out as well. Also of interest are the protective guards on the small aerial and ice detectors (at least that's what I think they are).
The cockpit. This heli is SPIFR, I'm told, but I'm sure someone can confirm it from this photo. All looks very confusing when you're used to flying Robbies!
It looks like a well-equipped helicopter for both lighthouse support work and the other duties it will be put to by Irish Helicopters. I know they are very pleased with this machine and are looking forward to exploiting the capabilities of this helicopter. As regards the BO-105s, there are no immediate plans to dispose of either of them just yet. Thanks to Ian and Alan at Irish Helicopters for the opportunity to take these photos.
500 Fan.
Chunky-looking rear view mirror.
Underside of tailboom with various refinements.
All four skid legs have these tie-down points.
The fuselage underside is well tricked-out as well. Also of interest are the protective guards on the small aerial and ice detectors (at least that's what I think they are).
The cockpit. This heli is SPIFR, I'm told, but I'm sure someone can confirm it from this photo. All looks very confusing when you're used to flying Robbies!
It looks like a well-equipped helicopter for both lighthouse support work and the other duties it will be put to by Irish Helicopters. I know they are very pleased with this machine and are looking forward to exploiting the capabilities of this helicopter. As regards the BO-105s, there are no immediate plans to dispose of either of them just yet. Thanks to Ian and Alan at Irish Helicopters for the opportunity to take these photos.
500 Fan.
Irish Heli Hangar.
Davy, I didn't pay any attention to the other helicopters in the hangar, to be honest. The AS350 is definetly an IHL machine but I think the 407 and 109 are privately-owned machines being maintained by Irish Helicopters. I didn't note the registrations or take any photos of them.
500 Fan.
500 Fan.
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500fan,
Not ice detectors, but sensing probes (TAT) for Air Data Unit. The guards are a good idea, seen quite a few un-guarded ones knocked off during aircraft washing.
Not ice detectors, but sensing probes (TAT) for Air Data Unit. The guards are a good idea, seen quite a few un-guarded ones knocked off during aircraft washing.
Last edited by nodrama; 30th Nov 2008 at 14:57.
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500 fan, that Hiller was sold to a Mr Ken Besson I believe and had been owned by the US ambassodor to Ireland (name?) who was selling his personal hiller as he returned to the states. I recall seeing it in Rosslare when I was a wee lad, I believe it was in a blue colour scheme. If I recall correclt Ken Besson if I have his first name right formed Irish Helicopters with that hiller but I am open to correction on that. I also seem to remember that the oil crisis put him out of the picture and Aer Lingus took over Irish Helicopters as a subsidiary for a number of years.
Hi Bolkow.
The UH-12, EI-AKT, was registered to a company called "Irish Helicopters" who were based in Shannon in the late fifties. The guys at IHL tell me that that was a completely different company to the current "Irish Helicopters Ltd" which first started operations in 1968 in Dublin. Another source has also confirmed this. Irish Helicopters Ltd operated a green and white Fairchild-Hiler FH1100, EI-ART, that was leased to them from a company called "Bandwagon Ltd". I don't know who they were but, at a guess, might have been something to do with a showband, who were popular in Ireland at the time. Thanks.
500 Fan.
Edit: Just found this photo of EI-ART.
Photos: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
The UH-12, EI-AKT, was registered to a company called "Irish Helicopters" who were based in Shannon in the late fifties. The guys at IHL tell me that that was a completely different company to the current "Irish Helicopters Ltd" which first started operations in 1968 in Dublin. Another source has also confirmed this. Irish Helicopters Ltd operated a green and white Fairchild-Hiler FH1100, EI-ART, that was leased to them from a company called "Bandwagon Ltd". I don't know who they were but, at a guess, might have been something to do with a showband, who were popular in Ireland at the time. Thanks.
500 Fan.
Edit: Just found this photo of EI-ART.
Photos: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net