Air Corps to decommission military helicopter

A military helicopter used to save more than 500 lives in Ireland over the past four decades is to be decommissioned, it was revealed today.

The Air Corps said it is to “stand down” the Alouette III which has been central to thousands of rescue and Army missions since it first went into active service.

The French-made aircraft bought by the Defence Forces in 1963 was used mainly as an air and sea rescue helicopter but was also used by the Army around the border.

Its “retirement” at a special ceremony on Friday will signal the closure of a glorious chapter in the Air Corps history, according to the Defence Forces press office.

The helicopter, considered to be one of the best of its kind ever made, has helped its crews save the lives of 542 people during operations over the past 44 years.

It has been involved in more than 1,700 search and rescue and some 2,882 air ambulance missions during its military lifetime.

There were 14 members of the Air Corps decorated for outstanding bravery during some of these rescues on the helicopter.

Former technicians and aircrew as well as rescue workers will get a final glimpse of the aircraft’s manoeuvres at the farewell ceremony at Casement Aerodrome in Co Dublin.

Brigadier General Brian McMahon (retired), the pilot who flew the first Alouette to the Baldonnel in 1963, will be the among those at event.

Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Pat Nash and General Officer Commanding Air Corps, Brigadier General Ralph James will also attend.

The Air Corps now uses a new fleet of Eurocopter EC135 and Agusta/Westland AW139 helicopters.