I3BrigPvSk
The Viking
As a Swede, it would be interesting to hear what you think about the JAS 39 GRIPEN.
The South African Air Force have bought them, only problem is, only a few people can fly them. A cadre of would be pilots were sent to UK for training, every single one failed.
Is the JAS more complicated to fly than similar fighters? They (SAAB, the Gov of S) were quite upset when Norway decided to purchase the F-35 instead
To solo on the Gripen should typically take new pilots five years, 2 Squadron's operations officer, Lt Col Musa “Midnite” Mbhokota told journalists in October. This includes basic military training (three months), officers forming course (a further three months), the Military Academy (one year) and basic pilot training (one year). The latter includes 180 hours on the Pilatus PC7 MkII. Next follows some 390 hours on the Hawk at 85 CFS before posting to 2 Squadron where conversion to the Gripen takes place, starting with six weeks in the classroom followed by 70 hours on the Squadron Level Mission Trainer (a flight simulator) and a further 70 hours on the aircraft. Both periods include 30 hours of conversion training, 20 hours of air warfare training and 20 hours of surface warfare training. It then takes a further six sorties to solo.
I don't think the problem was the plane ....
SAAF boasts 23 fighter aircrew
SA proves girls can fly fighter jets
I don't think the problem was the plane ....
Witch brings up the question....Why send them to the U.K. instead of Sweden for training?Ohh crap! The flight manual was in Swedish, right?
Witch brings up the question....Why send them to the U.K. instead of Sweden for training?
Witch brings up the question....Why send them to the U.K. instead of Sweden for training?
I should guess the reason for sending them to the UK is the collaboration between SAAB and the British Aerospace. I am a bit confused, the JAS is not their first fighter, even if the Cheetah (looks a bit as a Mirage, Kfir) is perhaps quite old now, but why did they fail? They must have experienced pilots
http://www.af.mil.za/equip/aircraft.html
The SADF send all their trainee pilots to the UK, a chopper pilot I know was sent to the RN Air Station at Yeovilton training on the Lynx.
The people they sent were not qualified pilots, they were of the Affirmative Action trainee variety.
The vast majority of the older/experienced pilots took their early retirement because of the unfairness of promotion prospects. To be blunt, if you are white, you wont get anywhere, while unqualified people are promoted above you. That's not being racists, that's fact.
So they lowered the requirements to get other ethnic groups into the air force? Did they do that all over the South African society? I just took a mental note "Never get sick if you are in SA" If they have lowered the requirements for MDs as well
Yes they did lower the standards quite a bit, including medical training, so that those with a lower IQ could pass the course. However, with our medical aid we can chose which hospital to go to. Our local hospital have got among the best doctors in the country. My family doctor also carried out surgery, he trained in South Africa, worked in the UK for a number of years then came back and started his own practice. He was a brilliant doctor, sadly he died of cancer not too long ago.
There has been a number of serious accidents in the SADF in recent years due to inept instructors and even more inept trainee's.
Compared to the SADF pre 1994, today's SADF is a joke.
Their (SA) elite formations (two??) had a reputation, I remember I read about Executive Outcomes, they were created mainly by officers and men from these (this) elite unit(s). Anyway, they were famous throughout the African continent
Have you ever heard the English Electric Lightning take off on full afterburners?
Now that was awesome.
The one thing I regret was never having the opportunity to see a Lightning melt the runway!
Near where I live, they have a two seater restored to taxi status and they do after burner runs, but I don't think its the same.
I have, however, been buzzed by a Vulcan and that was awesome!
Taxi runs aren't the same, its a shame Lightning's are not allowed to fly in UK any more. No doubt Brussels and Health and Safety are to blame or some liberal bunny hugger bitching about the sonic boom breaking her windows.
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