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Aviation History
1978
1978 - 1160.PDF
112 FLIGHT International, 8 July 1978 Left The Czech Air Force's Kosice Sextet aerobatic team, from the Kosice Air Academy, flies L-29 Delfins. Right A Cessna 172 of the Dominican Air Force and recently refurbished to extend their useful lives, the modification pro gramme being due for completion this month. To replace the Super Sabres, Denmark has ordered GD F-16s: 36 F-16As and 12 two-seat F-16Bs, with a further ten aircraft on option. A total of 47 F-104G Starfighters are in the RDAF inventory, including 15 ex- Canadian AF CF-104Gs and seven two- seat CF-104Ds. Two intercepter units operate these machines, 723 and 726 Sqns at Aalborg, with some of the two- seat Ds operating in the ECM role. At Vaerlose, 721 Son forms the RDAF's transport element, operating three C-130H Hercules which have replaced eight C-47s and five Douglas C-54s. At the same base, 722 Son has an SAR role for which it is equipped with eight Sikorsky S-61As. Detachments of these helicopters are also based at Aalborg and Skrydstrup. Training, which was previously performed on 24 Chipmunks (including five with station flights) at Avno, is now carried out on 32 Saab T-17 Supporters, the final aircraft having been delivered in May last year. After primary training on the T-17s, students go to the United States for a course on USAF Cessna T-41s, progress ing to Cessna T-37s and T-38s before returning to Denmark for conversion to the two-seat TF-lOOFs, TF-104Gs and TF.35s. Nine of the Supporters are replacing the Danish Army's half-dozen KZ.VIIs and Super Cubs in the observation role. The Army aviation element has recently been renamed Army Flying Service and is headquartered at Vandel. An Army helicopter element flies 15 Hughes 50OM LOHs delivered in 1971- 1973. The Danish Navy has a small air element equipped with eight Alouette Ills for liaison duties; they are main tained at Vaerlose by the RDAF's 722 Sqn. Late last year the Danish Navy ordered seven Westland Lynx for delivery in 1979. They will be used from frigates and shore bases on re connaissance and fishery protection in Greenland, the Faroes and the North Sea. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Fuerza Aerea Dominicana This small country, situated in the Caribbean, operates a token air forte under a central air command within which are some three active units. The fighter combat squadron, equipped with more than a dozen F-51D Mustangs, acts mainly as a training unit. Seven B-26Ks form the bomber component, and the survivors of ten Vampire F.l/FB.50s constitute the country's sole jet equip ment. For coin duties approximately six T-28Ds are used, but these aircraft also fulfil a dual training commitment. With the country almost surrounded by water, the SAR and MR tasks assume considerable importance, although budget restrictions have not allowed for the replacement of the two PBY-5A Catalinas in use. A transport squadron has six C47s, six C-46s and three DHC Beavers. Helicopters include three Alouette II/IIIs, two Sikorsky H-19s, two Hiller UH-12Es and seven OH-6As. The training element has four Cessna 172s plus some T-6s and Beech T-lls. DUBAI See under UNITED EMIRATES AIR FORCE. ECUADOR Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana Following America's veto on the sale to Ecuador of 24 Israeli Kflr fighter-bombers early last year, the FAE placed an order with Dassault for 16 Mirage F.lCs and two F.1B two-seat combat trainers; no delivery date has yet been announced for these aircraft. They will join the squadron of 12 BAC/Breguet Jaguar International strike aircraft delivered last year under an order covering ten single- and two two-seat trainers. A reconnaissance squadron flies seven Meteor FR.9s originally pur chased in 1954 and of doubtful opera tional status, while a bomber unit has five BAC Canberra B.6s of six originally delivered. Of the 16 BAC Strikemaster Mk 89s received, 14 survive to equip a strike/trainer unit. A counter-insur gency squadron was established in 1976 following the purchase of 12 Cessna A-37Bs from the USA. For coastal SAR duties, one or two PBY-5A Catalinas still in use are attached to the Military Air Transport Group of the FAE. This element has a variety of types includ ing four DC-6s, 12 C-47s, two DHC-5D Buffalos delivered in 1976, and six Beech C-45 light transports. Five HS.748s are in service, two being Series 2A air craft with a large freight door. Of these, two operate with TAME (Trans- portes Aereos Nacionales Ecuatori- anos), the military airline branch of the FAE. Scheduled passenger and cargo flights are operated by this air line, which also has four Lockheed Electras and a single Twin Otter. Two further Twin Otters are in air force use and two C-130H Hercules are on order. The transport element makes occa sional use of two Ecuatoriana Boeing 720s for long-range flights. A helicopter element has two SA.330 Pumas, four rescue Lamas, six Alouette Ills, three Bell 47Gs and an FH-1100. For photo-survey work a Gates Learjet 25D is in service, together with two 25Bs for VIP use. A number of Cessna 180s and 320s are flown for liaison work, and a primary training element has 20 Cessna T-41s and 24 Cessna 150 Aero- bats. To modernise the training force, 20 Beech T-34C Turbo-Mentors are on order to replace nine T-28s; 12 T-33As are used for advanced work together with some of the Strikemasters. Twelve Italian SF.260 primary trainers were delivered to the FAE last year. The Ecuadorean Army has a small support air arm equipped with a single Short Skyvan, three Pilatus Turbo- Porters and five IAI Aravas. The Navy too has a liaison unit, equipped with two Alouette III helicopters, one Arava, one Cessna 320E, one Cessna 177, two Cessna T-37F/Gs and two Cessna T-41Ds. EGYPT Arab Republic of Egypt Air Force A partial answer to Egypt's critical re- equipment dilemma, following her severing of links with the Soviet Union, was announced earlier this year when the United States agreed to supply 42 Northrop F-5E fighter-bombers and eight F-5Fs. President Sadat had requested up to 250 F-5s, and a re-order at a later date seems likely. Finance for the deal is believed to have come from Saudi Arabia, herself an F-5E operator, and last July it was announced that a five- year development plan for Egypt's armed forces would be paid for by Saudi money. Another firm commit ment was announced in January when a £50 million order for 250 Lynx helicopters and Rolls-Royce Gem en gines was signed involving the manu facture of both items in Egypt for a number of Arab states. The first 20 Lynx will be built in the UK and knocked-down components will then be shipped out to Egypt for assembly, with total self-sufficiency eventually planned. No firm orders have yet been placed for Alpha Jet or Mirage F.l, and the expected HS.748 purchase has yet to be made. The Egyptian Air Force currently operates much Russian equipment, and total numbers reflect aircraft acquired and not necessarily those operational. A bomber force has some 25 Tu-16 Badger Gs, some armed with AS-5 Kelt ASMs, and a similar number of 11-28 light bombers. Fighter-bomber units are equipped with about 120 Sukhoi Su-7s, although some reports suggest a figure nearer 80, and nearly 150
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