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Aviation History
1969
1969 - 0115.PDF
FLIGHT International, 16 January 1969 811 turbojets, which develop 5,8431b military thrust, or 7,1661b each with afterburning, acceleration and climb of the 20,0001b max gross MiG-19 is saiid to be better at low altitude than that of either the F-104A or the MiG-21, and the twin power- plants confer additional reliability. An unusual feature of the MiG-19 is that it has a manual reversion system for its ailerons, in addition to duplicated and independent hydraulic control systems, plus standby electric actuation of the all-moving slab tail. Tailplane to stick gearing is varied automatically with airspeed, to maintain a fairly constant rate of stick force per g. Fixed armament comprises three fairly slow-firing (600 rounds per minute) 30mm cannon of Soviet origin mounted in the wing roots and beneath the starboard side of the nose. Very large muzzle brakes are fitted to these cannon, indicative of their recoil, since they fire a shell about one-third as long again as those in the French 30mm DEFA guns of the Mirage HI. and their cartridge cases are correspondingly bigger. To lengthen firing times, all three guns may be selected individually or in pairs. Underwing armament is limited by the space required for undercarriage stowage, but there are two inner "half-pylons" and a pair of outboard attachment points for drop tanks, 55mm rocket pods or other stores. It is significant that in an air force renowned for its marksmanship. MiG squadrons gained the first three places in the most recent air-to-ground gunnery competition. One of the main lessons of the 1965 war was the need for greater self-sufficiency in military equipment and ammunition, and this was accentuated by the arrival of the MiG-19s. Although spares from the Chinese have caused no particular 93 problem, and in fact have proved easier to stockpile than was the case with components for MAP aircraft, the PAF has improved its component repair facilities both at depot and station level by more than 100 per cent since 1965. Local manufacture of many minor aircraft parts such as tyres, brake pads, starters, generators and so on has also grown from virtually nothing to more than 500 items. In the case of the MiG-19, about 75 per cent of the tooling required for complete overhaul facilities had to be locally produced. Despite all these difficulties, however, serviceability rate continues to be over 80 per cent. This is all the more remarkable when it is considered that PAF technicians have to maintain the MiGs alongside MAP- supplied F-104 Starfighters from the US, and now Mirage IllEPs from France, at a single base, where there are also Lock heed RT-33As of a reconnaissance flight and Kaman HH-43B/ SAR helicopters, not to mention an airworthy Indian-built Gnat forced down intact during the 1965 war. In passing, it may be mentioned that although the Gnat was popularly named the "Sabre slayer" in India after the 1965 war. the PAF says that it cannot trace a single recorded instance of any of its Sabres being shot down by this type of aircraft during hostilities. After flying the Gnat in simulated combat for some three years against all its first-line aircraft, the PAF concludes that it is generally inferior to the Sabre in almost everything except climb, although it is difficult to hit in a dog-fight because of its small size. For pure interception, the PAF is still using a squadron of Lockheed F-104 A Starfighters armed, like the Sabres in their day-fighter role, with Sidewinder AAMs. but with the addition of a 20mm Gatling-type cannon. An interesting illustration of PAF safety standards is that having received 12 F-104s. including one or two F-I04B two-seat trainers, in 1962, the PAF is still flying nine of these original aircraft—generally regarded as very critical to operate. Two were lost during the 1965 war—one after flying through the debris of its IAF victim during air fighting, the other when trying to land in a severe dust storm. The third was flown too low for recovery during air-to-ground gunnery; so in no case was an aircraft malfunction involved. The PAF has also lost only two of its Sabres in accidents since September 1965, and one of these was the result of a bird strike. One of the deficiencies revealed by the war with India was the lack of a night and all-weather fighter, but this is now being remedied by delivery of the Dassault Mirage IIIEP to the PAF. French sources indicate that about 24 intercepter/ strike aircraft are involved in the Pakistani order, and the first fighter versions are already in service. Like the F-104 pilots, those flying the Mirage wear partial pressure suits for high-altitude operation, but will have French Matra R.530 air-to-air missiles at their disposal as well as Sidewinders. The CSF Cyrano IIB fire-control radar in the Mirage IIIE can be One of the Pakistan Air Force Mirage IllEPs 2 Main strength of the PAF still rests on its half-dozen or so squadrons of Sabres, armed as here, with Sidewinder AAMs, in addition to six 12.7mm machine-guns and external stores if required •K'SfiSI ^Lr?*cl Designated the F-6 by their Chinese manufacturers, the MiC-l9s donated to the PAF were brand-new aircraft with an impressively high standard of workmanship. Points of interest include the large muzzle brakes for the protruding 30mm cannon, the 55mm under wing rocket pods, and the nosewheel brake unit Compared with the French DEFA 30mm cannon shell on the right. the 30mm round for the MiG-19 cannon is about half as long again, and uses a correspondingly larger cartridge case
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