A good book about the Kosciuszko Squadron.
Posted on 09/15/2006 11:00:22 AM PDT by lizol
Poland takes keys to new F-16 jets
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Poland has taken possession of the first of an eventual 48 U.S.-made F-16 jets equipped with a new reconnaissance package that offers real-time imagery.
Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski was in the United States this week to meet with Bush administration officials and to formally accept delivery of the aircraft under the U.S. Peace Sky foreign military sales program.
The jets, built by Lockheed Martin, are of the F-16C/D, Block 52 version, which carries upgraded electronics and a higher-performance F110-GE-129 engine.
The Fighting Falcons earmarked for Poland are also equipped with a digital, real-time reconnaissance system that gives the Polish air force a long-range surveillance and targeting capability that fits in with potential multi-national missions requiring steady airborne intelligence.
Poland currently has small contingents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and this week committed additional boots-on-the-ground to the Afghan theatre.
The DB-110 system produced by Goodrich Corp. is currently used on Japan's OP-3C maritime surveillance plane and the Royal Air Force Tornado.
"Delivery of our system will be ... a step-up in the tactical ability of Poland's F-16 fleet," said Ken Luczaj, president of Goodrich's Optical and Space Systems Division. "The delivery of this innovative system to Poland will mark the first use of this technology aboard F-16s."
I think it's absolutely appropriate that the minister's last name is Sikorski....
There's something just right about it....
The SCO's worst nightmare - F-16s with Polish insignia. Suggested next step - indigenous Polish war birds compatible with US ones. Similar to Japan.
They have keys? Can one hotwire the ignition?
I did notice that the "fighter pilot" genes took over first and they painted the minister's name and handle on the cockpit.
Purina dogs' food is actually 9 field. :) 4 field Polish checkboard that can be seen on Polish army planes is much, MUCH older.
Here is a good video of the F-16.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cunp6R6V8cI
But I did find this.
Which includes this tidbit:
The training programme at the Aviation Cadets School in Deblin and the Advanced Flying School in Grudziadz-Ulez was very demanding, both with regard to flying and shooting skills, with constant competition among the pilots, each striving to do their best. Let me describe just one exercise, as recollected by F/Lt Stanislaw Bochniak: a colored, small parachute was thrown out of the cockpit in flight. The trainee, always keeping it in sight, had to climb 300-400 meters (1000 ft) above it, stall into a spin, and recover at just the right moment to fire exactly one shot with his camera gun. In most cases, not only did they not lose sight of the parachute, but "scored" on the shot! ...
It's no wonder then, that a few years later these pilots were to be considered the best among the RAF, especially when compared with the run-of-the-mill RAF or even Luftwaffe pilots (which - of course - does not mean that both these airforces did not have good or outstanding pilots). The combat record of Polish pilots, with a consistently high victory/loss ratio, also speaks for them.
On April 11, 1942, when an aerial gunnery competition was staged within the 11th Fighter Group, the three competing Polish squadrons - 303, 316 and 315 took the first three places out of 22 competingsquadrons, 303 Squadron coming first by a healthy margin. These high standards were sustained throughout the war, with pilots from combat units on rest from operational duties taking part in the training of rookie pilots.
The Polish are a great people...I never could understand the Pollack Jokes when I was a kid????
Too bad they built it with only 1 engine. But then we'd have another F-15. Oh well...
A good book about the Kosciuszko Squadron.
Wish I Knew more Polish. I'd like to go there someday.
You didn't understand them? Maybe simply because they had been told in Polish. But seriously if understood them BUT didn't find them funny then there's a very good chance for your IQ being above 100. :)
It's not all that old tech anymore - it's a bit like the Eagle - about all that remains of the original generation of gear is the shape of the bird. New electronics, engines, construction, materials, weapons - meaner and leaner.
And as a Viper driver once told me, it's small enough to fit into your vest pocket - and turn around in there, too!
"I don't climb into my Falcon - I put the damn thing on like a pair of pants."
RE Polish Jokes: A neighbor has a Polish son-in-law. On the day John Paul was elected Pope, he called her from Alaska: "Hah! We just told the biggest, best Polish joke in the world!"
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