Air Force to have F-16 flight simulator<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Sutria
\nTubagus said yesterday the Indonesian Air Force will obtain a F-
\n16 Fighting Falcon flight simulator for its pilots' training
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
"We will have the simulator installed this year," Sutria told
\nreporters after attending the Air Forces' 51st Anniversary
\ncelebrations at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force base.<\/p>\n
Sutria said the sophisticated equipment would place less
\npressure on Air Force pilots to be physically fit to fly the U.S.
\nbuilt airplanes.<\/p>\n
"The training simulator is very helpful, especially when we
\nbuy more F-16 aircraft in the future," said the three-star
\nMarshal.<\/p>\n
He declined to comment on how much money would be spent buying
\nthe simulator.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government plans to purchase another nine F-16
\naircraft from the U.S. to strengthen its air defense.<\/p>\n
The nine F-16s were initially offered to Pakistan, which
\nordered them for $200 million in the 1980s. The purchase was
\ncanceled in 1990 after the U.S. accused Islamabad of developing
\nnuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
Sutria guaranteed that the Air Force would be able to handle
\nmaintenance services.<\/p>\n
"It's true that some of our aircraft are aging. Yet, they are
\nstill flight worthy thanks to the proper maintenance," he said.
\n"We can maintain both new and old planes."<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Air Force still operates airplanes left over
\nfrom World War II, including Harvards and L-4Gs.<\/p>\n
Sutria said investigations into the crash of a F-16 airplane
\nlast month were continuing.<\/p>\n
"We have to be objective in the investigation because the
\nresult will be used as a precious lesson for Air Force
\npersonnel," he said, adding that the investigation also involved
\nother related institutions.<\/p>\n
A F-16 crashed on landing at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force
\nBase on March 10, killing the pilot, Capt. Dwi Sasongko.<\/p>\n
Initial reports of the accident said the airplane crashed due
\nto bad weather.<\/p>\n
Separately, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said the
\nIndonesian Armed Forces needed additional warplanes to cover
\nIndonesia's vast territory.<\/p>\n
"The existing airplanes still cannot cover all of our
\nairspace, while much of our old equipment and many airplanes are
\ntechnologically outdated," he said.<\/p>\n
Feisal told the Air Force personnel to be creative in making
\nthe best use of the existing equipment and airplanes. (imn)<\/p>",
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