PAF Still Holds Record For F-16 Induction

[Windjammer]

PAF Pilots are of very high caliber, commented the Instructor who trained the initial batch of Six PAF pilots on the F-16 Fighting Falcons. According to the author, these comments had even more significance since same USAF Instructor had both American and Israeli Pilots in the course. After nearly Forty Years, this disclosure becomes more apparent as it's said that for nearly four decades, PAF holds the record, as no other Airforce has inducted the F-16s in such a short span of time as did the PAF. While European Air Arms took Four Years and the Israelis completed it in 3.5 Years, the PAF did it in 18 Months. Albeit, this news was carried by few aviation journals at the time however, recently it was confirmed by one of the first 10 pilots who went to US for training (after the first 6, 4 more went who were known as the First 10 Foreign Students). Incredible!!

 

[Lincoln]

PAF Pilots are of very high caliber, commented the Instructor who trained the initial batch of Six PAF pilots on the F-16 Fighting Falcons. According to the author, these comments had even more significance since same USAF Instructor had both American and Israeli Pilots in the course. After nearly Forty Years, this disclosure becomes more apparent as it's said that for nearly four decades, PAF holds the record, as no other Airforce has inducted the F-16s in such a short span of time as did the PAF. While European Air Arms took Four Years and the Israelis completed it in 3.5 Years, the PAF did it in 18 Months. Albeit, this news was carried by few aviation journals at the time however, recently it was confirmed by one of the first 10 pilots who went to US for training (after the first 6, 4 more went who were known as the First 10 Foreign Students). Incredible!!

PAF and F-16 are a natural match. The only ones who can compete would be Israel, Greece, Turkey and USAF, I believe. None else.

 

[Windjammer]

Every Man A Tiger:
"Iraqi pilot training came from three sources: France, Pakistan and the former Soviet Union. Lucky for us, Soviet training proved dominant, with their emphisis on rigid rules,strict command arrangements and standardized tactics. Coupled with this centralized
approach, the Soviets were suspicious of non- Russians and disliked Arabs. The Iraqi students were taught to take off and land their aircrafts safely, but otherwise their training was so basic, so lacking in advanced tactics, as to be useless. There was however a wild card. Not all Iraqi training came from the Russians.

Iraqi pilots, were trained well by their French and Pakistani instructors. Pakistan has one of the best, most combat ready airforces in the world. They have to; their neighbour to the east is huge, and the two nations, have a long history of hostilities. For Indian war planners, the Pakistan air Force is their worst fear. Pakistani pilots are respected throughout the world, especially the Islamic world, beause they know how to fly and fight

On one or two occasions, I had the oppertunity to talk with Pakistani instructor pilots, who had served in Iraq. These discussions, didn't give me great cause to worry. The Russian domination of training prevented the Pakistanis from having any real influence on the Iraqi aircrew training program.

Still, there had to be a few Iraqi pilots, who had observed and listened to their mentors from France and Pakistan and the useless guidence of their inept leaders. It was those few, I was concerned about - the ones with great situational awareness and good eyesight, who had figured out how to effectively use their aircraft and its weapons to defend their nation."

(General Chuck Horner (retd) and Tom Clancey. General Chuck commanded the US and allied air assets during Desert shield and desert storm, and was responsible for the design and execution of one of the most devestating air campaigns in the history. He also served as Commander 9th Air Force, Commander US Central Command Air Forces, and Commander in chief, SpaceCom. Book: Every Man A Tiger).

 

[masterchief_mirza]

The sheer unmatched beauty of the F-16 makes hairs stand up in places I didn't know I had hairs.

 

[Alpha BeeTee]

PAF's love affair with the F16s has no bounds.

Aaj economy nay sath dia hota tou blk 72 mangwatay thok kay hisaab say.

 

[Imran Khan]

they were very hurry because of soviets threat

 

[Raider 21]

PAF Pilots are of very high caliber, commented the Instructor who trained the initial batch of Six PAF pilots on the F-16 Fighting Falcons. According to the author, these comments had even more significance since same USAF Instructor had both American and Israeli Pilots in the course. After nearly Forty Years, this disclosure becomes more apparent as it's said that for nearly four decades, PAF holds the record, as no other Airforce has inducted the F-16s in such a short span of time as did the PAF. While European Air Arms took Four Years and the Israelis completed it in 3.5 Years, the PAF did it in 18 Months. Albeit, this news was carried by few aviation journals at the time however, recently it was confirmed by one of the first 10 pilots who went to US for training (after the first 6, 4 more went who were known as the First 10 Foreign Students). Incredible!!

The Israelis had it short too. Definitely less than 3 years as they took the Viper to combat before anyone else did. Nonetheless PAF sent their very best to convert onto the Viper, and that record time stands by it.

Also the Israelis that were on the course with the PAF guys were from a younger batch, the first set of Israeli pilots had graduated before PAF IPs had even landed in the US to start their training.

 

[Khafee]

Every Man A Tiger:
"Iraqi pilot training came from three sources: France, Pakistan and the former Soviet Union. Lucky for us, Soviet training proved dominant, with their emphisis on rigid rules,strict command arrangements and standardized tactics. Coupled with this centralized
approach, the Soviets were suspicious of non- Russians and disliked Arabs. The Iraqi students were taught to take off and land their aircrafts safely, but otherwise their training was so basic, so lacking in advanced tactics, as to be useless. There was however a wild card. Not all Iraqi training came from the Russians.

Iraqi pilots, were trained well by their French and Pakistani instructors. Pakistan has one of the best, most combat ready airforces in the world. They have to; their neighbour to the east is huge, and the two nations, have a long history of hostilities. For Indian war planners, the Pakistan air Force is their worst fear. Pakistani pilots are respected throughout the world, especially the Islamic world, beause they know how to fly and fight

On one or two occasions, I had the oppertunity to talk with Pakistani instructor pilots, who had served in Iraq. These discussions, didn't give me great cause to worry. The Russian domination of training prevented the Pakistanis from having any real influence on the Iraqi aircrew training program.

Still, there had to be a few Iraqi pilots, who had observed and listened to their mentors from France and Pakistan and the useless guidence of their inept leaders. It was those few, I was concerned about - the ones with great situational awareness and good eyesight, who had figured out how to effectively use their aircraft and its weapons to defend their nation."

(General Chuck Horner (retd) and Tom Clancey. General Chuck commanded the US and allied air assets during Desert shield and desert storm, and was responsible for the design and execution of one of the most devestating air campaigns in the history. He also served as Commander 9th Air Force, Commander US Central Command Air Forces, and Commander in chief, SpaceCom. Book: Every Man A Tiger).

 

[gangsta_rap]

Why were we training Iraqis back then? Saddam was no friend to us

 

[truthseeker2010]

PAF and F-16 are a natural match. The only ones who can compete would be Israel, Greece, Turkey and USAF, I believe. None else.

Only Israeli's and to some extent turkish,

also a lesser known fact is the performance of f-16 with paf made market for various export countries.............

 

[Sabretooth]

An acquaintance of mine who is a retired PAF pilot once told me that PAF trainees had requested the USAF instructor on several occasions to pit them against Israeli pilots in a training exercise to settle the matter of who is the best, once and for all but the request was always denied. When the PAF trainees insisted too much the USAF instructor said, ''they are heroes today only because of their neighbors''.

 

[loanranger]

''they are heroes today only because of their neighbors''

Going by that logic Indians are better than Isrealis...

 

[Sabretooth]

Going by that logic Indians are better than Isrealis...

Indian Pilots are better than Arab Pilots. Since the inception of 2 countries, PAF has been facing a much tougher adversary then Israelis have.

 

[loanranger]

Indian Pilots are better than Arab Pilots. PAF has been facing a much tougher adversary then Israelis have.

Pakistani>Indian>Arab
Isreali Alien race

 

[Sabretooth]

Pakistani>Indian>Arab
Isreali Alien race

I will arrange the equation like this;

Pakistani>Indian=Isreal>Arab