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This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated or have formerly been operated by the Irish Air Corps.
Contents |
Active Irish military aircraft
Military aircraft currently in active service with the Irish Air Corps are as follows[1]:
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AgustaWestland AW139 |  Italy |
Helicopter | AW139 | 4 | 2 on order. Armed with Door GPMG |
| Beechcraft Super King Air |  United States |
Transport | 200T | 1 | (earlier used for maritime patrol duties) |
| Britten Norman Defender 4000 |  United Kingdom |
Reconnaissance and Patrol | PBN-2T-4S | 1 | (Flown by IAC to assist the Garda Síochána (Irish police force)) |
| CASA CN-235 |  Spain |
Reconnaissance and Patrol | CN-235M-100P | 2 | |
| Cessna 172 |  France |
Transport | FR172H | 5 | Reims-built |
| Eurocopter EC-135 |  Germany |
Light utility Helicopter | EC135P2
EC135T2 |
2
2 |
One on order
(Flown by IAC to assist the Garda Síochána) |
| Gates Learjet 45 | United States |
Transport | - | 1 | |
| Grumman G1159C Gulfstream IV | United States |
Transport | G1159C | 1 | |
| Pilatus PC-9M |  Switzerland |
Trainer | PC-9M | 8 |
Retired Irish military aircraft
A few examples of former Air Corps aircraft are retained in the Air Corps Museum in Baldonnel. These include an Avro Anson, An Alouette III and a Fouga Magister. A De Hallivand Vampire and a Miles Magister are on display in the National Museum in Collins Barracks (Dublin).
Military aircraft which have been withdrawn from service with the Irish Air Corps include the following:
Bombers
- de Havilland DH.9
- Fairey Battle TT.1
- Hawker Hind B.2 and Hind Trainer T.1
- Lockheed L214 Hudson I (also used for maritime patrol duties)
Fighter and attack aircraft
- Avro 504K
- Bristol F.2B
- de Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.11 and T.55
- Gloster Gladiator I
- Hawker Hurricane I, IIB and IIC
- Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard
- RAE S.E.5a
- Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9 and V.S. 506 Seafire LF.III
Reconnaissance and patrol aircraft
Transport and liaison aircraft
- Avro 652A Anson I and C19
- Avro 626 Prefect (also served as a navigation trainer)
- BAe 125-600B and -700B
- de Havilland DH.84M Dragon II
- de Havilland DH.104 Dove Mk 4, Mk 5, Mk 7, and Mk 8A
- Grumman G1159A Gulfstream III (leased)
- Hawker Hector
- Martinsyde A1 Mk II
- Vickers Type 193 Vespa IV and Type 208 Vespa V
- Westland Lysander II
Trainer aircraft
- Avro 621 Tutor
- Avro 631 Cadet (also used for coastal patrol duties)
- Avro 636
- de Havilland DH.60 Cirrus Moth
- de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.20 and T.22A
- Fouga CM-170 Magister and CM-170-2 Super Magister
- Miles M.14A Magister
- Miles M.25 Martinet TT.1
- Miles M.9A Master I, M.19 Master II, and M.27 Master III
- Percival Provost T.51 and T.53
- SIAI-Marchetti SF-260D, SF-260MC, and SF-260WE Warrior
- CASA CN-235M-100 (loaned by CASA for Irish aircrew familiarization)
Helicopters
- Aérospatiale Alouette III - replaced by AW139s and retired in September 2007
- Aérospatiale SA330J Puma - retired
- Aérospatiale SA342L Gazelle - retired December 2005 + sold
- Aérospatiale SA365Fi Dauphin II - retired + sold
- Sikorsky S-61N - Previously operated by IAC for Search & Rescue/Coast Guard. Since returned to CHC Ireland who operate it in same capacity.
- Eurocopter Twin Squirrel AS355N - Operated by IAC for Garda Air Support Unit until replaced by second EC135-T in January 2008.[2]