The Irish Air Corps’ Learjet 45 has been very busy of late and, with Ireland having hosted the EU presidency and adding to the demand for the aircraft, its reliability and versatility have been praised by the Corps. The Lear 45, which replaced a King Air 200, arrived at Badonnel in December 2003 and began operating with six flight crew on January 21 this year.

Said comdt Brian Moynihan: “The Learjet 45 undertook its first oper-ational mission with Ireland’s Minister for Defence, Michael Smith. On its first mission the aircraft found itself on its way to Roberts International Airport, Monrovia, Liberia, stopping en route in both Rabat and Dakar.

“Since it’s entry into service the aircraft has flown over 450 hours,” he continued. “During the presidency, the aircraft has experienced both extremes of weather. It has been to Tindiouf, Algeria and as far as Sharm El Sheikh.”

The aircraft recently completed a non-stop flight from Baldonnel to Moscow. It has flown over 97 ministerial air transport missions and has carried over 630 passengers. “The Learjet 45 has proven itself a very reliable and versatile aircraft. It has had 100 per cent dispatch reliability.”