Air Force grounds Sukhoi-30MKI after crash
New Delhi: India's front-line fighter aircraft, the Sukhoi-30MKI has been grounded after last week's shock crash. The Air Force says it must know the cause for the unprecedented crash before it flies the aircraft which it believed was invincible. No time frames have been set for lifting the embargo.
In the past, several types of fighter aircraft, including the MiG-21 and the MiG-29, have been grounded. In fact the last time the MiG-21 was grounded was in the middle of a near-war situation with Pakistan in 2002. The Air Force calls it prudent precaution.
Air Commodore Jasjit Singh from the Centre for Air Power Studies says, "When there are no obvious answers, it is irresponsible to let them fly."
As IAF's director of flight safety, Singh grounded 17 squadrons of the MiG-21 comprising half the Air Force in 1977 after a freak accident. Correctives following the scrutiny saved five aircraft from accident.
Air Commodore Jasjit Singh explains, "The US Air Force grounded F-15s for two to three months."
India is to acquire at least 230 Sukhois which are to be the spearhead of any future air offensive by India. At the moment, the world's most feared fourth-generation fighter awaits redemption. Only a sudden threat to India will force the IAF to fly the Sukhoi before the inquest.
Link
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/air-force-grounds-sukhoi30mki-after-crash/91986-3.html
New Delhi: India's front-line fighter aircraft, the Sukhoi-30MKI has been grounded after last week's shock crash. The Air Force says it must know the cause for the unprecedented crash before it flies the aircraft which it believed was invincible. No time frames have been set for lifting the embargo.
In the past, several types of fighter aircraft, including the MiG-21 and the MiG-29, have been grounded. In fact the last time the MiG-21 was grounded was in the middle of a near-war situation with Pakistan in 2002. The Air Force calls it prudent precaution.
Air Commodore Jasjit Singh from the Centre for Air Power Studies says, "When there are no obvious answers, it is irresponsible to let them fly."
As IAF's director of flight safety, Singh grounded 17 squadrons of the MiG-21 comprising half the Air Force in 1977 after a freak accident. Correctives following the scrutiny saved five aircraft from accident.
Air Commodore Jasjit Singh explains, "The US Air Force grounded F-15s for two to three months."
India is to acquire at least 230 Sukhois which are to be the spearhead of any future air offensive by India. At the moment, the world's most feared fourth-generation fighter awaits redemption. Only a sudden threat to India will force the IAF to fly the Sukhoi before the inquest.
Link
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/air-force-grounds-sukhoi30mki-after-crash/91986-3.html