[bolkow]

It's great to see so much interest in IHL. Here are a few links to a couple of photos of some of the past fleet;

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1023088/
The 'Papal' Bell 212 from 1981 with the Papal Crest still on the engine fairing.

http://www.worldairpics.com/photo/10050 ... 19343&sp=8
Same helicopter in slightly different markings in 1988.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Irish-He ... _id=NEXTID
Here is Bell 212 EI-BAM in 1977.

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1017427/
The short-lived Hughes 500D. This would have looked good in IHL orange-and-blue! I think it was with IHL for about two years before being sold on. Does anyone know what roles it was used in. Probably charter, light sling-loading and aerial photography?

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1029450/
EI-BKT in the older all-orange scheme.

500 Fan.

I rememeber a Hughes 500 in the Cork hangar it was all grey and I believe the reg was EI-BVY? (Have'nt opened your link yet so I am really testing my memory. I was told it was used for the fish farms for quickly transferring fish in underslung nets. At the time all its main rotors were off and on the bench as they had found some cracks I was told.

[bolkow]

It's great to see so much interest in IHL. Here are a few links to a couple of photos of some of the past fleet;

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1023088/
The 'Papal' Bell 212 from 1981 with the Papal Crest still on the engine fairing.

http://www.worldairpics.com/photo/10050 ... 19343&sp=8
Same helicopter in slightly different markings in 1988.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Irish-He ... _id=NEXTID
Here is Bell 212 EI-BAM in 1977.

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1017427/
The short-lived Hughes 500D. This would have looked good in IHL orange-and-blue! I think it was with IHL for about two years before being sold on. Does anyone know what roles it was used in. Probably charter, light sling-loading and aerial photography?

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1029450/
EI-BKT in the older all-orange scheme.

500 Fan.

I rememeber a Hughes 500 in the Cork hangar it was all grey and I believe the reg was EI-BVY? (Have'nt opened your link yet so I am really testing my memory. I was told it was used for the fish farms for quickly transferring fish in underslung nets. At the time all its main rotors were off and on the bench as they had found some cracks I was told.

Ha, I got it the wrong way around it was BYV. Just goes to show the wife must have been right at least half of those times she swore blind I was wrong after all! Never mind, she does not read this forum! LOL

[500 fan]

By some kind of an uncanny coincidence, there is a brief article on the Mountjoy Prison Break from Halloween 1973 in the current issue of the 'Garda review' magazine that a friend has shown me. A black and white photograph accompanies the article. It shows Irish Helicopters' Alouette II, EI-AWC, in a shed at the Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park undergoing examination for fingerprints after the hijacking. The helicopter is in a single, pale colour (probably yellow) with the registration in black under the doors. The skids are black as well and there doesn't appear to be any 'Irish Helicopters' titles anywhere on the machine. It's not possible to see the panel under the engine fully so maybe there is some text there. Can anyone confirm this?

500 Fan.

[bolkow]

By some kind of an uncanny coincidence, there is a brief article on the Mountjoy Prison Break from Halloween 1973 in the current issue of the 'Garda review' magazine that a friend has shown me. A black and white photograph accompanies the article. It shows Irish Helicopters' Alouette II, EI-AWC, in a shed at the Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park undergoing examination for fingerprints after the hijacking. The helicopter is in a single, pale colour (probably yellow) with the registration in black under the doors. The skids are black as well and there doesn't appear to be any 'Irish Helicopters' titles anywhere on the machine. It's not possible to see the panel under the engine fully so maybe there is some text there. Can anyone confirm this?

500 Fan.

Maybe you're correct then and it was an alouette 2 all along by the sounds of that.

[Hoss]

I remember the Hughes operating in and out of the Bord Gais compound at Little Island, Cork, possibly in connection with gas pipeline work at the time?

Have we not strayed a little from the original topic, perhaps Irish Helicopters deserves a thread of it's own?

[500 fan]

Hoss, you are probably correct about this going off-topic. If I get a few photos of the EC135 I'll post them here. If anything new comes up about Irish Helicopters Ltd, I'll start a new thread.

500 Fan.

[bolkow]

Hoss, you are probably correct about this going off-topic. If I get a few photos of the EC135 I'll post them here. If anything new comes up about Irish Helicopters Ltd, I'll start a new thread.

500 Fan.

Well all that has been discussed has been about and to do with Irish helicopters but I am renowned for straying off subject and not noticing, so maybe its just me.
With that hughes 500 it was definitely alos used for fish transfers to fish farms, it was very very fast apparently.

[500 fan]

If this thread has strayed from the original topic than that is my fault, with my request for photos of the past IHL fleet. I have just read that IHL are under contract to commence operation of the EC135 for the Commissioners of Irish Lights on the 1st of December this year so its arrival must be imminent, if in fact it is not already resident at Westpoint. I'll make an enquiry this week to see what's the story.

500 Fan.

[bolkow]

If this thread has strayed from the original topic than that is my fault, with my request for photos of the past IHL fleet. I have just read that IHL are under contract to commence operation of the EC135 for the Commissioner for Irish Lights on the 1st of December this year so its arrival must be imminent, if in fact it is not already resident at Westpoint. I'll make an enquiry this week to see what's the story.

500 Fan.

Dont know if its there yet or not. But I sure look forward to seeing pics of it when they become available. I heard its in the same blue and orange scheme though a variation of it.

[vortex003]

The new 135 was reg'd as G-CFFR and is on caa.co.uk/ginfo

[bolkow]

The new 135 was reg'd as G-CFFR and is on caa.co.uk/ginfo

Yep, a temporary UK registration that will change after it enters Irish service. Anybody wann arun a book on what its Irish reg will be?
My two guesses

EI-CIL

or EI-ILS

[flyby magic]

it arrived in on last thursday evening and is registered EI ILS

[michael747]

I saw it in EIWT on friday, It looks great.
It was just doing some engine runs on HP3 when i was there.

The orange colour on it is a real headturner

[500 fan]

The IHL website has a photo of the upper half of the fuselage of EI-ILS. Not sure if it carries the Commissioners of Irish Lights badge though.

500 Fan.

[bolkow]

The IHL website has a photo of the upper half of the fuselage of EI-ILS. Not sure if it carries the Commissioners of Irish Lights badge though.

500 Fan.

I dont belive it does,- yet, the Irish Helicopters logo seems to be where the CIL logo would have been.
Does the offshore ec135 still have the ADELT on the starboard side like the bolkows did , - anyone know?