tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264588377759770215.post3478727295055269907..comments2011-11-10T00:05:28.488-08:00Comments on Retire the coffin: Here's Swapnil's cousin describing the incident.RKShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17226006726012807818noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264588377759770215.post-89827171850665126152007-03-08T17:56:00.000-08:002007-03-08T17:56:00.000-08:00A few quotes first: 1. "...IAF’s fighter fleet is ...A few quotes first:<BR/> <BR/>1. "...IAF’s fighter fleet is in danger of block obsolesce...The Type 66, Type 77 and Type 96 MiG-21s are now well past their prime. Indeed these types were due to be withdrawn over a decade ago.<BR/> <BR/>...Over the last decade a proliferation of fourth generation fighter types in the east have rendered the resident Type-77 squadrons obsolete"<BR/> <BR/>Source: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/SRR/Volume13/rupak.html ; Originally printed in: ORF Strategic Trends Volume II Issue 48 December 6, 2004 (by retired air marshal BK Pandey, who was Former C-in-C, Training Command, Indian Air Force)<BR/> <BR/>2. "...Air Commodore Chandramouli in Bagdogra airbase said on phone that the jet took off for a practice flight at around 1.00 pm with Squadron Leader Pandey piloting it. <BR/> <BR/>It broke into pieces in flight between Norbong tea estate and Shibkhola in Kurseong sub-division immediately afterwards and crashed, Chandramouli said. <BR/> <BR/>The aircraft's wreckage was spread over the slopes of hills in the area, he said..."<BR/> <BR/>Source: Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/MiG-21_crashes_near_Kurseong_in_West_Bengal/articleshow/1708407.cms)<BR/> <BR/> <BR/>How the hell did the plane break-up into pieces, that too mid flight!! The Govt. just has to get rid of the rotten junk.<BR/> <BR/>How much longer will we keep losing our finest officers because of lack of foresight by the Govt. & the IAF??<BR/><BR/>I agree that there is some level of inherent risk in flying and am sure that all our pilots are prepared to take that 'normal level of risk' but surely, flying the outdated junk is beyond any comprehensible levels. I won't be surprised if our pilots are actually forced by the 'babus' to fly the rusting thrash AKA 'Flying Coffins'.<BR/> <BR/>All our babus (ministers, PM & presidents) should be made to ride the MIG-21s as the sole mode of their air transport.<BR/><BR/>Both the Govt. & the IAF should be tried for murdering our elite officers flying the MIG-21 fighters. If not the Govt., then surely we (the citizens) should be tried for having voted for the filthy and money hungry politicians who couldn't care less of our brave young pilots.<BR/> <BR/>I'm sure (give it a few weeks) & we'll have the Govt. & IAF soon issuing joint statements that it was 'pilot error' or another story of likes of that 'vulture' that appears out of nowhere to pick exclusively on MIGs !!<BR/> <BR/>Vikas<BR/> <BR/>http://accessability.co.inVikas Sharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16070931834223859849noreply@blogger.com