| Aircraft
|
Origin
|
# in Service
|
Serial Nos
|
Service Years
|
Notes
|
| Fighter aircraft
|
| Bristol F.2B Fighter
|
United Kingdom
|
8
|
I-VIII
|
1922-35
|
|
| Bristol F.2B Fighter Mk.II
|
United Kingdom
|
6
|
17-22
|
1925-35
|
|
| Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard
|
United Kingdom
|
4
|
I-IV
|
1922-29
|
|
| 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.[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.
|
| 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.
|
| Supermarine Seafire LF.III
|
United Kingdom
|
12
|
146-157
|
1947-55
|
Aircraft were denavalised before delivery.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| Hawker Hind I
|
United Kingdom
|
6
|
67-72
|
1940-44
|
Planned to acquire 15, but only six were. Used as advanced trainers.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.[36]
|
| 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.[36]
|
| 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.[37]
|
| 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.
|
| 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.[39] Replaced by AW139s.[40]
|
| Aérospatiale SA 330J Puma
|
France
|
1
|
242
|
1982-83
|
Leased for two years for search and rescue and troop transport.[41][42]
|
| Aérospatiale SA 342L Gazelle
|
France
|
2
|
237 and 241
|
1980-2005
|
Used for pilot training.[43] Later sold.
|
| 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. Later sold.
|
| 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.[44][45][46]
|
| Eurocopter AS 355N Twin Squirrel
|
France
|
1
|
255
|
1997-2008
|
Operated for Garda Air Support Unit. Replaced by second EC135T in January 2008.[47]
|
| Trainer aircraft
|
| Avro 504K
|
United Kingdom
|
6
|
I-VI
|
1922-32
|
|
| Avro 621 Tutor
|
United Kingdom
|
3
|
A7-9
|
1930-7
|
Replaced the Avro 504[49]
|
| 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
|
Irish Army Air Corps were the sole users of this airplane. 4 aircraft total ever made and all put to Irish service.
|
| 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.[36]
|
| de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.22
|
Canada
|
2
|
199-200
|
1965-80
|
Attrition replacements for Chipmunk T.20.[36]
|
| 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.[36]
|
| Fouga CM.170-2 Super Magister
|
France
|
7
|
215-221
|
1975-99
|
Replaced the Vampires. #221 was an instructional airframe.[36]
|
| Hunting Percival Provost T.51
|
United Kingdom
|
4
|
177-180
|
1954-76
|
Unarmed advanced trainer.
|
| Hunting Percival Provost T.53
|
United Kingdom
|
7
|
181-183 and 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.[50]
|
| 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.[51]
|
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260W Warrior
|
Italy
|
11
|
222-231, 235
|
1977-2003[52]
|
Replaced Chipmunks and Provosts. Armed basic trainer. #235 was an attrition replacement. In 1991-1992 a lease of three SF.260D was made to accelerate pilot training. #231 is in possession of the Air Corps Museum.[53]
|
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260MC
|
Italy
|
1
|
233
|
1997-2003
|
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[54], #162[55], and #163[56] were still flying as warbirds.
|
