Courtesy: Irish Air Corps 

Airliner Experience is pleased to announce permission has been granted for an Aviation Enthusiast’s Group Visit to the Irish Air Corps – Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.

Depending on their operations schedule we will have access to most of the resident Air Corps aircraft, for external and internal inspections, which include,

Helicopters:
AgustaWestland Aw139 (x6)
Eurocopter EC-135 (x3)

Fixed Wing Aircraft:
CASA CH-235M – Troop Transporter & Maritime Patrol (x2)
Pilatus PC-9M (x8)
Gulfstream IV – Government Jet (x1)
Learjet 45 – Government Jet (x1)
Cessna 172  (x1)

It is a real privilege to be allowed group access to Casement Aerodrome and to glimpse inside the workings of the Irish Air Corps and their aircraft. Depending on the day, and on Air Corps operations we may get to visit the guns and Ammunition Section, Control Tower and Meteorological Office. There may also be an opportunity to see some older classic aircraft stored on the premises.

Photography of the aircraft is permitted except for the Garda Helicopter and wherever else we are told along the tour. Access has been granted to some of the aircraft internally so we can view the cockpits where possible.

It is a guided tour and will be lead by one or several members of the Air Corps at different points.
The date is Wednesday 4th of December 2013 at just before 2pm at the gate of Baldonnel.

If interested, your name will be required to be forwarded to the Air Corps for a background check prior to the visit.

The cost for the tour is €24 per person which broken down is €12 for a mini coach and €12 for administration fee from Airliner Experience.

The coach will pick-up and return passengers to three locations (Airside Swords – where you can park your car, The Coachmans Inn – where you could park along the front and from Runway 28 Spotters Area).
The Irish Air Corps are not charging for the tour, the associated costs outlined above are charges in respect of Airliner Experience. Payment will be by bank transfer or internet banking or cheque 7 days prior to the event.

Places are strictly limited. The Wednesday will be a busier day at Baldonnel and may produce a lot more interest for us to see, as workshops will be operating and exercises may be underway. Saturday is a much quieter day with less activity to view.

My request to the Irish Coast Guard for a group tour of the Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter has also been approved and hopefully on the day will land at Baldonnel for our group to have a ground tour of this Search and Rescue workhorse. It is the last S-61 operating with the Irish Coast Guard and is due to be retired during December.

It is the oldest operational S-61 SAR in the world at 51 years old and the second oldest operational S-61 in the world.

We have been granted a special visit of this aircraft (subject to emergency call out etc.) and we will be the last members of the public to tour it !

Look forward to your reply and obtaining a chance to get close to the aircraft of the Irish Air Corps.

Kind regards,
Aidan Nolan

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Irish Aviation Research Institute © 18th November 2013 All Rights Reserved.