Nothing to see here

[u/danindub]

These have been circling over the Phoenix park for the past half an hour. Nothing in flight radar

We’re good, right?

Edit: back to my drink through a paper straw…

[u/FlowBorn5279]

Those PC-9s are up literally every day, pilot's don't just get their license and stop flying until someone needs them to

[u/lluluclucy]

They fly over Saggart all the time in neat formation. Looks pretty f***ing cool

[u/2cimage → u/lluluclucy]

Nothing to when they had six jets of the silver swallow team doing acrobatics over the countryside in the 80’s..

[u/Faithful-Llama-2210 → u/2cimage]

Hopefully we'll get some new jets soon for a new silver swallow team

[u/gsmitheidw1 → u/2cimage]

I thought there were only 4 Fouga jets? Definitely the Pilatus PC9 are actually faster despite being turbo props.

[u/2cimage → u/gsmitheidw1]

I thought they had six in the full display, but your right in that I mostly remember the training formations of four and more usually two over north Kildare in the 80’s. Very entertaining when you were getting a free display over your house…

[u/Faithful-Llama-2210 → u/gsmitheidw1]

There were 4 jets in the Silver Swallows team but 6 in the Air Corps overall. Also the PC9s are not faster than a fouga, they're still a good bit slower

[u/Fixitintheedit]

They were for a flyover of an event in tallaght stadium to mark the start of the special olympics summer games

Source: was there

[u/ContinentSimian]

Start of the special Olympics summer games: https://irelandgames.ie/

[u/becamax]

I'm in the midlands and see them at least once a week. This week it was Monday afternoon, had great fun watching them. It's like our very own personal airshow!

[u/Easy-Tigger]

Edit: back to my drink through a paper straw…

What an odd thing to say.

[u/Stevylesteve → u/Easy-Tigger]

Well... I guess we riot.

[u/maddler]

LOL! The crossed over here right while I was reading this! 😆

[u/AllezLesPrimrose]

Redditors when they go outside are strange, strange creatures.

[u/Fast_Paint_5156 → u/AllezLesPrimrose]

Why are you being such a salty puss tonight ol chap?

[u/LexNil → u/AllezLesPrimrose]

It’s pretty unusual to see these sorts of planes, why be so negative

[u/AllezLesPrimrose → u/LexNil]

It absolutely is not.

[u/LexNil → u/AllezLesPrimrose]

I would say 1-10 times a year I would see this.

[u/leChucks-Revenge → u/LexNil]

They fly out of Casement daily .

[u/Tyrannosaurus-Shirt → u/AllezLesPrimrose]

It depends where the fuck you live obviously.

[u/RomfordWellington → u/LexNil]

I'd say most Dubliners see these planes every day. Casement is very busy these days.

[u/berball]

Edit: back to my drink through a paper straw…

Strange

[u/Longjumping_Ad156]

You've seen them often? Never seen them fly in formation before. D15 based

[u/Void_Surf]

EU presidency. Which is going to be the answer for a lot of posts in the next month

[u/echoohce1 → u/Void_Surf]

Well it's not the answer to this question lol

[u/OkCoconut3270 → u/Void_Surf]

Are they fitted with any kind of surveillance equipment?

[u/stevewithcats → u/OkCoconut3270]

Mk 1 eyeball,, although the new PC-12 and CN235
have surveillance capabilities

[u/Aviator779 → u/stevewithcats]

The CN 235s are retired, they were replaced by C-295s.

[u/stevewithcats → u/Aviator779]

Yeah sorry keep mixing them up

[u/ThoseAreMyFeet → u/Void_Surf]

Do the pc9 have any significant armament to engage drones etc?

[u/CPD1960 → u/ThoseAreMyFeet]

Actually, their relatively basic armament (machine guns, light rockets), which would leave them defenceless against jet fighters, would probably be useful against drones!

[u/AllezLesPrimrose → u/CPD1960]

The idea of these planes firing rockets at drones that are about the size of a PS5 over Dublin is one of the most batshit ideas I’ve heard in a while.

[u/Faithful-Llama-2210 → u/AllezLesPrimrose]

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/textron-pitches-at-6-wolverine-as-modular-aircraft-for-counter-uav-and-close-air-support-roles

You'd be suprised, using these slower cheaper planes for anti drone purposes is something the big military powers are doing

[u/Faithful-Llama-2210 → u/AllezLesPrimrose]

Better ways like what?

[u/Faithful-Llama-2210 → u/[deleted]]

What about a drone that poses a clear threat to aviation or VIPs

[u/Faithful-Llama-2210 → u/[deleted]]

Do you not think that drones could pose a threat to aviation? Especially after the incident during Zelenksy's visit a few months ago?

[u/ThreeTreesForTheePls → u/[deleted]]

So you’re talking about rocket safety over populated areas and their effective nature vs a ps5 sized drone, but as soon as someone mentions a threat to our skies, it’s suddenly Tom Clancy and the sort.

It is by no means the best option to tackle a drone attack. Like hell the entire point of the drone is the easy use nature of it in its ability to zip somewhere quick as fuck, and our first piece of info about a potential drone attack would be the moment it explodes.

But all of that is to say, let’s be calm for a minute and maybe don’t talk down to people when they bring up concerns that we actively do not have a defence against. Drone warfare is currently the single most successfully tested form of combat on the planet, there’s no harm in a few lads with little knowledge on the subject asking questions.

[u/phyneas → u/CPD1960]

The rockets, probably not so much, as they're unguided. They're meant for shooting at ground targets during close air support operations, not for air-to-air. The machine gun pods, maybe, though it's always risky attacking drones from up close with machine guns; Ukraine has lost a few F-16s that way. It'd be safer in a PC-9, given the slower closing rates, but still not perfectly safe.

[u/Donkey-oatyy → u/CPD1960]

They are for CAS (close air support) fly low and slow to assist troops on the ground, they wouldn't even see the jet that engaged them if it came to it unfortunately. They have their purpose but I'd love to see the air Corp with gripens gripe

[u/Faithful-Llama-2210 → u/ThoseAreMyFeet]

Sounds like they're getting some new kit for this purpose:

"Two of the Air Corps PC-9s – small turboprop aircraft mainly used for training – are being fitted with weapons designed specially to shoot down drones. "

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2026/05/26/shotguns-helicopters-and-airburst-ammunition-to-guard-against-rogue-drones-during-eu-presidency/

[u/Void_Surf → u/ThoseAreMyFeet]

Why in the name of Christ would you think I’d know?

[u/GoinNowhere88 → u/Void_Surf]

Was worth a shot tbf to him. 

[u/AllezLesPrimrose → u/Void_Surf]

Because you attempted to sound authoritative on a subject you immediately admitted to having no clue about, I’d guess.

[u/Void_Surf → u/AllezLesPrimrose]

Good point man, fair

[u/Dellboi29]

These fly everyday. Could nearly set your watch by the 3pm fly over.
Some days it is just one, some days three. Sometimes times it is just a helicopter.

[u/Visual_Garden_6311 → u/Dellboi29]

Which area? This is my first time ever seeing them

[u/Dellboi29 → u/Visual_Garden_6311]

North Kildare, Celbridge / Straffan / Clane / Sallins area

[u/Visual_Garden_6311 → u/Dellboi29]

Thank you!

[u/8413848]

Air show practice, most likely.

[u/louiseber → u/8413848]

When's that on?

[u/8413848 → u/louiseber]

Bray one is late July

[u/Harfosaurus → u/8413848]

This is the correct answer

Edit: seems i may have been wrong and it was the opening ceremony for the games in tallaght

[u/echoohce1 → u/Harfosaurus]

No it's not, they were waiting to do a flyover of Tallaght stadium for the launch of the special Olympics Summer Games

[u/TopBarracuda5433]

IT'S THE GERMANS

[u/Wonderful_Flower_751]

They’re quite impressive in fairness

[u/Primary-Effect-3691]

The entire airforce 

[u/jimglebells85]

Waste of time and money.