List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps

IAC AgustaWestland AW139.

This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated or have formerly been operated by the Irish Air Corps.

Active Irish military aircraft

Military aircraft currently in active service with the Irish Air Corps are as follows:

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
AgustaWestland AW139	Italy	Transport Helicopter (M-L)	AW139	6	Sometimes armed with door mounted GPMG
CASA CN-235	Spain	Maritime patrol	CN-235M-100P	2	Upgraded by EADS-CASA in 2008
Cessna 172	France	Surveillance & Monitoring	FR172H	5	Reims-built
Eurocopter EC-135	Germany	Trainer Helicopter	EC135P2	2	Also used to support the Army when not in pilot training
Gates Learjet 45	United States	VIP Transport	45	1
Grumman G1159C Gulfstream IV	United States	VIP Transport	G1159C	1
Pilatus PC-9M	Switzerland	Trainer Aircraft	PC-9M	7	8 delivered, one crashed in 2009. Sometimes equipped with HMG or rocket pods.
In addition, the IAC operates on behalf of the national police force's Garda Air Support Unit:
Britten-Norman Defender 4000	United Kingdom	GASU reconnaissance and patrol	BN2T-4S	1
Eurocopter EC 135T2	Germany	GASU	EC135T2	2

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 Havilland 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Military aircraft which have been withdrawn from service with the Irish Air Corps include the following: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.I
• Hawker Hind and Hind Trainer
• Lockheed Hudson I (also used for maritime patrol duties)

Fighter and attack aircraft

• Avro 504K
• Bristol F.2B Fighter
• De Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.55
• Gloster Gladiator I
• Hawker Hurricane I, IIB and IIC
• Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard
• RAE S.E.5a
• Supermarine V.S. 506 Seafire LF.III
• Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9

Reconnaissance and patrol aircraft

• Fairey IIIF Mk II
• Supermarine V.S. 236 Walrus I

Transport and liaison aircraft

• Avro 652A Anson I and C19
• Avro 626 Prefect (also served as a navigation trainer)
• Hawker Siddeley HS.125-600B and -700B
• Beechcraft Super King Air 200T
• De Havilland DH.84 Dragon 2
• De Havilland DH.104 Dove Mk 4, Mk 5, Mk 7, and Mk 8A
• Grumman G1159A Gulfstream III (leased)
• Hawker Hector
• Martinsyde Type A Mk II
• Vickers Type 193 Vespa IV and Type 208 Vespa V
• Westland Lysander II

Percival Provost Mk 51 in IAC colours

Trainer aircraft

Eurocopter Dauphin SA-365F landing. Retired in 2005.

• Avro 621 Tutor
• Avro 631 Cadet (also used for coastal patrol duties)
• Avro 636
• De Havilland DH.60 Cirrus I Moth
• De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.20 and T.22A
• Fouga CM-170-2 Super Magister
• Miles M.14A Magister
• Miles M.25 Martinet TT.I
• Miles M.9A Master I and M.19 Master II
• Hunting Percival Provost T.51 and T.53
• SIAI-Marchetti SF-260D and SF-260WE Warrior
• CASA CN-235M-100 (loaned by CASA for Irish aircrew familiarization)

IAC Alouette III. Retired in 2007.

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.