Air Force to have F-16 flight simulator

JAKARTA (JP): Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Sutria Tubagus said yesterday the Indonesian Air Force will obtain a F- 16 Fighting Falcon flight simulator for its pilots' training programs.

"We will have the simulator installed this year," Sutria told reporters after attending the Air Forces' 51st Anniversary celebrations at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force base.

Sutria said the sophisticated equipment would place less pressure on Air Force pilots to be physically fit to fly the U.S. built airplanes.

"The training simulator is very helpful, especially when we buy more F-16 aircraft in the future," said the three-star Marshal.

He declined to comment on how much money would be spent buying the simulator.

The Indonesian government plans to purchase another nine F-16 aircraft from the U.S. to strengthen its air defense.

The nine F-16s were initially offered to Pakistan, which ordered them for $200 million in the 1980s. The purchase was canceled in 1990 after the U.S. accused Islamabad of developing nuclear weapons.

Sutria guaranteed that the Air Force would be able to handle maintenance services.

"It's true that some of our aircraft are aging. Yet, they are still flight worthy thanks to the proper maintenance," he said. "We can maintain both new and old planes."

The Indonesian Air Force still operates airplanes left over from World War II, including Harvards and L-4Gs.

Sutria said investigations into the crash of a F-16 airplane last month were continuing.

"We have to be objective in the investigation because the result will be used as a precious lesson for Air Force personnel," he said, adding that the investigation also involved other related institutions.

A F-16 crashed on landing at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base on March 10, killing the pilot, Capt. Dwi Sasongko.

Initial reports of the accident said the airplane crashed due to bad weather.

Separately, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said the Indonesian Armed Forces needed additional warplanes to cover Indonesia's vast territory.

"The existing airplanes still cannot cover all of our airspace, while much of our old equipment and many airplanes are technologically outdated," he said.

Feisal told the Air Force personnel to be creative in making the best use of the existing equipment and airplanes. (imn)