List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated, on order, or have formerly been operated by the Irish Air Corps.
Military aircraft currently in active service, or on order, with the Irish Air Corps are as follows:
| Aircraft | Origin | Role | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime surveillance | |||||
| Airbus C295 | Spain | Maritime patrol[1] | C295W MSA | 2[2][3] | Delivered 2023.[4] |
| Reconnaissance | |||||
| Pilatus PC-12 | Switzerland | ISTAR | PC-12NG | 3[2][3][5] | "Spectre" ISTAR variants; delivered 2020.[6] |
| Transport | |||||
| Learjet 45 | United States | Executive transport | 1[3][7] | Being replaced by the Dassault Falcon 6X.[8] | |
| Pilatus PC-12 | Switzerland | Utility | PC-12NG | 1[2][3][5] | One utility variant; delivered 2020.[9] |
| Airbus C295 | Spain | Transport | C295W | 1[4][2] | Delivered 2025.[4] |
| Dassault Falcon 6X | France | Executive transport | 1[10] | Delivered 2025, to replace the Learjet 45.[11] | |
| Helicopter | |||||
| Eurocopter EC135 | Germany | Utility/Trainer | EC135 P2 | 2[3][12][2] | Entered service in 2005.[12] To be replaced by four Airbus H145M starting 2027 (replacements ordered in 2024).[13][2][14] |
| AgustaWestland AW139 | Italy | Utility | 6[3][15][2] | First two delivered in 2006.[15] Can be armed.[16] Planned to be replaced by eight "Super Medium Helicopters".[17] | |
| Trainer | |||||
| Pilatus PC-9 | Switzerland | Trainer / CAS | PC-9M | 8[3][18][2] | Entered service in 2004.[18] Can be armed.[16] One aircraft crashed in 2009 and replaced in 2017.[19] Planned to be replaced by 2029/2030.[17] |
| Police air support | |||||
| DHC-6 Twin Otter | Canada | Police air support | Guardian 400 | 1[2] | Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU). Delivered in 2025 to replace the Pilatus Britten Norman Defender 4000.[20][21] |
| Eurocopter EC135 | Germany | Police air support | EC135 T2 | 2[3][22] | Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU). Delivered in 2001 and 2007.[23] To be replaced by two Airbus H145 in 2026 (replacements ordered in 2023).[14][24] |
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).[25]
Military aircraft which have been withdrawn from service with the Irish Air Corps include the following:[26][27]
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| Aircraft | Origin | # in Service | Serial Nos | Service Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter aircraft | |||||
| Bristol F.2B Fighter | United Kingdom | 8 | I-VIII | 1922-35 | [28][29][30] |
| Bristol F.2B Fighter Mk.II | United Kingdom | 6 | 17-22 | 1925-35 | [28][29][30] |
| Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard | United Kingdom | 4 | I-IV | 1922-29 | [31] |
| RAE S.E.5a | United Kingdom | 1 | II | 1922 | Force-landed in Mallow and destroyed by Anti-Treaty IRA. |
| Gloster Gladiator I | United Kingdom | 4 | 23-26 | 1938-44 | 12 more were ordered (#27-30 and #53-60), but not delivered due to outbreak of Second World War.[30][32] |
| Hawker Hurricane I | United Kingdom | 12 | 93, 103-112 and 114 | 1940-46 | One RAF fighter force-landed in County Wexford in 1940 and purchased by Ireland. Eleven more acquired in 1943 from surplus RAF stocks.[30] |
| Hawker Hurricane IIa | United Kingdom | 1 | 94 | 1941-43 | RAF fighter force-landed in County Waterford. Interned and used as an advanced trainer. Returned to RAF in 1943. |
| Hawker Hurricane IIb | United Kingdom | 1 | 95 | 1941-43 | RAF fighter force-landed in County Meath. Repaired and used by Ireland as an advanced trainer. Returned to RAF in 1943. |
| Hawker Hurricane IIc | United Kingdom | 6 | 115-120 | 1945-47 | Acquired from surplus RAF stocks to partially replace the Hurricane Is.[30] |
| Supermarine Type 506 Irish Seafire | United Kingdom | 12 | 146-157 | 1947-55 | Aircraft were former LF.IIIs denavalised before delivery.[33][34][35] |
| Bomber aircraft | |||||
| De Havilland DH.9 | United Kingdom | 8 | I-VI,7-8 | 1923-35 | Six originally acquired. Additional two attrition replacements acquired in 1929.[31] |
| Fairey Battle TT.I | United Kingdom | 1 | 92 | 1941-46 | RAF target tug force-landed in County Waterford. Purchased by Ireland and used as a target tug.[30] |
| Hawker Hind I | United Kingdom | 6 | 67-72 | 1940-44 | Planned to acquire 15, but only six were. Used as advanced trainers.[30] |
| Lockheed Hudson I | United States of America | 1 | 91 | 1941-45 | RAF coastal patrol bomber force-landed in County Sligo. Purchased by Ireland and used for maritime patrol.[36] |
| Reconnaissance and patrol aircraft | |||||
| CASA CN-235M-100 | Spain | 3 | 250, 252, 253 | 1991-2023 | #250 was in use from 1991-95 until #252 and #253 arrived in 1994. Used for maritime patrol. |
| Reims-Cessna FR172H Rocket | United States of America | 8 | 203-10 | 1972-2019 | |
| Reims-Cessna FR172K Rocket | United States of America | 1 | 243 | 1981-2019 | Attrition replacement |
| Britten-Norman BN-2T-4S Defender 4000 | United Kingdom | 1 | 254 | 1997-2023 | Operated for Garda Air Support Unit.[37] |
| Fairey IIIF Mk. II | United Kingdom | 1 | - | 1928-34 | Another four Mk. IV were ordered and later cancelled due to economic cut backs. |
| Supermarine V.S. 236 Walrus I | United Kingdom | 3 | N18-20 | 1939-45 | N18 on display in Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovil.[30][38] |
| Transport and liaison aircraft | |||||
| Avro 652A Anson I | United Kingdom | 9 | A19-22 (renumbered 19-22) and 41-45 | 1937-46 | The first monoplanes and aircraft with retractable undercarriage to enter service with the Army Air Corps. Seven more ordered (#46-52), but not delivered due to outbreak of Second World War.[30] |
| Avro Anson C.19 | United Kingdom | 3 | 141-143 | 1946-62 | Used as navigation trainers. #141 is on display in the Air Corps Museum. |
| Avro 626 Prefect | United Kingdom | 4 | A10-A13 (renumbered 10-13) | 1934-41 | Replaced Vickers Vespas. Also used as navigation trainers. |
| Hawker Siddeley HS.125-600B | United Kingdom | 2 | 236 and 239 | 1979-80 | Leased for one year for ministerial transport. #239 was an attrition replacement for #236. |
| Hawker Siddeley HS.125-700B | United Kingdom | 1 | 238 | 1980-92 | Used for ministerial transport. |
| Beechcraft Super King Air 200T | United States of America | 3 | 232, 234, and 240 | 1977-2009 | #232 and #234 used for maritime patrol and retired in 1991. #240 used for ministerial transport and retired in 2009.[39] |
| de Havilland DH.84 Dragon 2 | United Kingdom | 1 | DH18 (renumbered 18) | 1937-41 | First twin engined aircraft to enter service with the Air Corps. Used as a target tug. |
| de Havilland DH.104 Dove 4 | United Kingdom | 1 | 176 | 1953-70 | Replaced Anson C.19. Used for twin-engined training and photographic surveys.[39] |
| de Havilland DH.104 Dove 5 | United Kingdom | 1 | 188 | 1959-61 | Replaced Anson C.19. Used for calibration of radar and navigation aids. |
| de Havilland DH.104 Dove 7 | United Kingdom | 1 | 194 | 1962-78 | Used for photographic surveys. |
| de Havilland DH.104 Dove 8A | United Kingdom | 1 | 201 | 1970-77 | Used for calibration of navigation aids. |
| Gulfstream III | United States of America | 1 | 249 | 1990-92 | Leased for two years for ministerial transport. |
| Gulfstream IV | United States of America | 1 | 251 | 1991-2014 | Used for ministerial transport.[40] |
| Hawker Hector | United Kingdom | 13 | 78-90 | 1941-43 | Ten acquired from surplus RAF stock in 1941. Three attrition replacements acquired in 1942. Used as advanced trainers. |
| Martinsyde Type A Mk II | United Kingdom | 1 | - | 1921-27 | Acquired in September 1921 and joined the newly formed National Army Air Service in July 1922. |
| Vickers Type 193 Vespa IV | United Kingdom | 4 | V1-4 | 1930-4 | Purpose built for the Army Air Corps. |
| Vickers Type 208 Vespa V | United Kingdom | 4 | V5-8 | 1931-42 | Purpose built for the Army Air Corps. |
| Westland Lysander II | United Kingdom | 6 | 61-66 | 1939-47 | Also used as target tugs.[30][41] |
| Helicopters | |||||
| Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III | France | 8 | 195-197, 202, 211-214 | 1963-2007 | First helicopters to be operated by Air Corps. #202 is on display in the Air Corps Museum.[42] |
| Aérospatiale SA 330J Puma | France | 1 | 242 | 1982-83 | Leased for two years for search and rescue and troop transport.[43][44] |
| Aérospatiale SA 342L Gazelle | France | 2 | 237 and 241 | 1980-2005 | Used for pilot training.[45] |
| Aérospatiale SA 365F Dauphin 2 | France | 5 | 244-248 | 1986-2006 | Used for search and rescue. #244 and #245 were equipped for naval operations on LÉ Eithne. |
| Sikorsky S-61N | United States of America | 1 | 257 | 2003-04 | Government had planned to acquire three S-61 for search and rescue, with options for two more transport versions. #257 was leased for three years to train crews, but returned after eighteen (18) months when the government decided to completely privatise the SAR role and cancelled the S-61 order.[46][47][48] |
| Eurocopter AS 355N Twin Squirrel | France | 1 | 255 | 1997-2008 | Operated for Garda Air Support Unit.[49] |
| Trainer aircraft | |||||
| Avro 504K | United Kingdom | 6 | I-VI | 1922-32 | [50] |
| Avro 621 Tutor | United Kingdom | 3 | A7-9 | 1930-7 | Replaced the Avro 504[51] |
| Avro 631 Cadet | United Kingdom | 7 | C1-7 (renumbered 1-7) | 1932-45 | C7 acquired as an attrition replacement. Planes also used for coastal patrol duties. |
| Avro 636 | United Kingdom | 4 | A14-17 (renumbered 14-17) | 1935-41 | Army Air Corps were the sole users of this airplane. |
| de Havilland DH.60 Cirrus I Moth | United Kingdom | 4 | 23-26 | 1926-35 | |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.20 | Canada | 12 | 164-175 | 1952-81 | Replaced Miles M.14 Magister. #164 is on display in the Air Corps Museum.[39] |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.22 | Canada | 2 | 199-200 | 1965-80 | Attrition replacements for Chipmunk T.20.[39] |
| de Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.55 | United Kingdom | 7 | 185-187, 191-193, and 198 | 1956-76 | Replaced Supermarine Seafires. First turbojet aircraft to serve in the Air Corps. #198 was delivered in 1963 as an instructional airframe. #191 and #198 are on display in the Air Corps Museum.[39] |
| Fouga CM.170-2 Super Magister | France | 7 | 215-221 | 1975-99 | Replaced the Vampires. #221 was an instructional airframe.[39] |
| Hunting Percival Provost T.51 | United Kingdom | 4 | 177-180 | 1954-76 | Unarmed advanced trainer. |
| Hunting Percival Provost T.53 | United Kingdom | 7 | 181-184, 189, 189A, and 190 | 1955-76 | Armed advanced trainer. #183 is on display in the Air Corps Museum. |
| Miles M.14A Magister I | United Kingdom | 27 | 31-40, 73-77, and 127-138 | 1939-53 | Replaced Avro 631 Cadets. Ten acquired in 1939. Five more acquired in 1940 as alternatives to Hind I. Twelve more acquired in 1946 as attrition replacements. #34 is on display in the Air Corps Museum.[30][52] |
| Miles M.25 Martinet TT.I | United Kingdom | 2 | 144-145 | 1946-58 | Replaced the Lysanders. Used as target tugs. |
| Miles M.9A Master I | United Kingdom | 1 | 96 | 1940 | RAF trainer force-landed in County Louth. Purchased by Ireland and used as an instructional airframe. |
| Miles M.19 Master II | United Kingdom | 12 | 97-102 and 121-126 | 1943-49 | Six acquired in 1943 from surplus RAF stocks. Another six acquired in 1945 as attrition replacements.[30][53] |
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260W Warrior | Italy | 11 | 222-231, 235 | 1977-2003[54] | Replaced Chipmunks and Provosts. Armed basic trainer. #235 was an attrition replacement. Three SF.260D were leased for pilot training in 1991-2. #231 is on display in the Air Corps Museum.[55] |
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260MC | Italy | 1 | 233 | 1977-2003 | Former Zairian aircraft used as an instructional airframe. |
| Supermarine Spitfire Tr.9 | United Kingdom | 6 | 158-163 | 1951-61 | Replaced the Miles Master IIs. As of 2025, #158[56], #162[57], and #163[58] were still flying as warbirds. |
References
Notes
- ↑ "The @IrishAirCorps 🇮🇪 received their third #C295 aircraft today". Airbus Defence. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hoyle, Craig (2025). World Air Forces 2026 (Report). FlightGlobal. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Defence Forces - Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 May 2024". oireachtas.ie. Houses of the Oireachtas. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Irish Air Corps Take Delivery of Third Airbus C-295". flyinginireland.com. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Pilatus PC-12". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Irish Air Corps New PC-12's Arrive in Baldonnel". flyinginireland.com. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Learjet 45". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Tánaiste confirms contract award of new Strategic Reach Aircraft". gov.ie. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ↑ "Air Corps to Take Delivery of Pilatus PC-12 Today". flyinginireland.com. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Government announces deal signed for new €53m French built Government Jet". thejournal.ie. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ↑ "Minister Welcomes Arrival of New Strategic Reach Aircraft". gov.ie (Press release). Department of Defence. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- 1 2 "EC135 P2". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ O'Brien, Fergal (30 December 2024). "Deal reached for new helicopters at a cost of over €90m". RTÉ. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- 1 2 "Departmental Expenditure Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2025". Houses of the Oireachtas. 17 September 2025.
- 1 2 "AW139". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- 1 2 Ian French (April 30, 2022). "Irish Air Corps Centenary". Aviation Press. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- 1 2 Ciarán Mather (12 December 2025). "Minister for Defence launches €1.7 billion Defence Sectoral National Development Plan". Ireland Live.
- 1 2 "Pilatus PC-9M". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Air Corps receive new Pilatus PC-9M". flyinginireland.com. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ↑ "De Havilland Canada's Twin Otter Guardian Aircraft Chosen for Enhanced Operational Capabilities". dehavilland.com. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ↑ "New Garda Air Support Unit Viking 400 Arrives in Baldonnel". flyinginireland.com. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "EC135 T2". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "The Garda Air Support Unit". garda.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-12-16/713/
- ↑ Tony Canavan (January 2007). "Museum Eye – Soldiers and chiefs, the Irish at war – National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, Dublin". Reviews. 15 (1). History Ireland.
- ↑ "Irish Air Corps Aircraft History 1922-2007". studylib.net. Retrieved 30 Dec 2025.
- ↑ "Air Corps Aircraft Register". frankjnr.powweb.com. Archived from the original on 15 Jul 2011. Retrieved 30 Dec 2025.
- 1 2 Byrne 1980, p. 52.
- 1 2 O'Malley 2010, p. 57.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 MacCarron 2012, p. 20.
- 1 2 MacCarron 2012, p. 18.
- ↑ "Irish Army Air Corps use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War". Håkan Gustavsson. Retrieved 20 Dec 2017.
- ↑ Byrne 1980, p. 62.
- ↑ "Superlative Seafarer". key.aero. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
The first four [Seafire] examples were handed over to an Irish representative by Supermarine during January 1947 [..] The final Irish Seafire (number 150) was withdrawn from service in March 1955
- ↑ Kearns, Tony (March 2022). "Beagach Fiachmar - No 1 Fighter Squadron". An Cosantóir. Vol. 82, no. 2. p. 70.
The Seafires soldiered on until 1955
- ↑ McIvor 1994, p. 83.
- ↑ "New Garda Air Support Unit Viking 400 Arrives in Baldonnel". flyinginireland.com. 13 Dec 2025. Retrieved 15 Dec 2025.
- ↑ O'Malley 2010, p. 148.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Air Corps Museum Collection (1918-2004)". Irish Military Archives. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ↑ "Government jet sold to US company". RTE. 30 Mar 2015. Retrieved 30 Mar 2015.
- ↑ O'Malley 2010, p. 205.
- ↑ "Alouettes set for final missions". Irish Times. 28 Jul 2007. Retrieved 20 Dec 2017.
- ↑ "Up, up and away . . . why our Air Corps are getting plenty of lift". Independent News & Media. 4 Jul 2000. Retrieved 6 Jan 2018.
- ↑ "N86-1981- Air Corp Helicopters - Air Corps Takes Delivery Of Puma Helicoptor - July 1981". Irish Photo Archive. Archived from the original on 10 Mar 2017. Retrieved 6 Jan 2018.
- ↑ "Gazelle Retired" (PDF). An Cosantóir – Defence Forces Magazine. Irish Defence Forces. March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 Oct 2022.
- ↑ "Irish Air Corps Selects GE CT7-8 Engines For Search And Rescue Mission". geaerospace.com. 5 Feb 2002. Retrieved 30 Dec 2025.
- ↑ "Govt scraps plan to buy 5 Sikorsky helicopters". irishtimes.com. 5 Jul 2002. Retrieved 30 Dec 2025.
- ↑ "Air Corps withdrawn from rescue work". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 11 Oct 2004. Retrieved 10 Nov 2020.
- ↑ "Second Garda helicopter takes to air". Irish Times. 15 Jan 2008. Retrieved 20 Dec 2017.
- ↑ McIvor 1994, p. 42.
- ↑ "Home > Military Archives Photo's > Air Corps Museum Glass Plate Negative Photographs > IE/MA/ACPS/GPN/001 – Glass plate negatives of a ground image of an Avro 621". militaryarchives.ie. Defence Forces. Retrieved 28 Dec 2025.
- ↑ MacCarron, Donal (1996), Wings Over Ireland, Leicester: Midland Publishing, p. 138, ISBN 1-85780-057-5
- ↑ Amos, Peter (2012). Miles Aircraft – The Wartime Years. Tonbridge, Kent, England: Air-Britain Historians Ltd. p. A228. ISBN 978-0-85130-430-4.
- ↑ "SF260WE in Air Corps Service". Archived from the original on 23 Sep 2005. Retrieved 9 Aug 2024.
- ↑ "SF.260 in military service". siai-marchetti.com. 5 Dec 2020. Retrieved 9 Aug 2024.
- ↑ "Fly a Spitfire 1943 Spitfire T.9 – MJ627". flyaspitfire.com. Retrieved 30 Dec 2025.
- ↑ "Spitfire ML407". warbirdflights.co.uk. Retrieved 30 Dec 2025.
- ↑ "Fly a Spitfire 1945 SPITFIRE T.9 – TE308". Retrieved 30 Dec 2025.
Sources
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aircraft of the Irish Air Corps.
- Byrne, Liam (1980). History of Aviation in Ireland. Blackwater Press. ISBN 9780905471105.
- Morgan, Eric B. & Burnet, Charles (December 1981 – March 1982). "Walrus... Amphibious Angel of Mercy". Air Enthusiast (17): 13–25. ISSN 0143-5450.
- O'Malley, Michael C (2010). Military Aviation in Ireland, 1921-45. University College Dublin Press. ISBN 9781906359485.
- MacCarron, Donal (2012). The Irish Defence Forces since 1922. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781780963914.
- McIvor, Aidan (1994). A History of the Irish Naval Service. Irish Academic Press. ISBN 9780716525233.
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