Posted on 05/19/2004 1:28:26 PM PDT by Grzegorz 246
First Polish F-16 Tests The first test flights of the multi-role F-16 aircraft in Poland took place May 13 at the military airfield of the First Tactical Squadron in Miñsk Mazowiecki near Warsaw.
The F-16 was purchased by the Polish air force as part of the contract of the century, as it is called. One of the show's guests was Gen. Robert H. Foglesong, commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and of the NATO Allied Air Forces Northern Europe.
Poland will receive the first eight F-16s by November 2006. By 2008, the Polish air force will have 48 such machines. Lt. Col. Stefan Rutkowski, commander of the First Tactical Squadron in Miñsk Mazowiecki, took part in an F-16 flight and in his opinion, Polish pilots should not have any significant difficulties in learning to fly the planes. "The F-16 is controlled similarly to the [current, Soviet-made basic combat aircraft of the Polish air force] MiG-29, except that the F-16 has more electronics," Rutkowski said about those first test flights. According to Rutkowski, the Polish air force needs a plane like the F-16 in order to be able to perform diverse tasks, including support missions for army and navy operations.
For the time being, Polish pilots still fly MiG-29 planes. According to Col. Ryszard Grzeliñski, head of the organization group to introduce the F-16, the switch to those machines will be a large technological and qualitative leap for Poland's armed forces. "The F-16 features better armament, radar and defense systems which enable the pilot to detect danger faster and perform the best maneuver," Grzeliñski said. "Pilots from over 100 countries fly F-16s. The aircraft has been proven in combat conditions." Grzeliñski emphasized the fact that the F-16 will enable broader cooperation with countries which use the planes.
Foglesong, who piloted an F-16 and then took part in a MiG-29 flight, praised the quality of Polish pilots' training. "The Polish air force is very professional (...)," he said after the flights. "My presence in Poland testifies to the air force's importance to NATO."
Maj. Rocis³aw Stepaniuk is to date the only Pole who is having F-16 training in the United States. Twelve other Polish pilots will fly to the U.S. next January and February and join Stepaniuk in training. Five of these pilots and Stepaniuk will become instructors to train Polish pilots in the future.
And Israel and Egypt receive the most FMF, and it runs into BILLIONS each year.
Doesn't matter one whit. The important thing is to keep those assembly-lines hummin'.
"as someone correctly observed, was partly if not completely financed by the U.S. government"
It was just a LOAN. It is different than financing equipment for Israel or Egypt or...Pakistan.
Bogdan Polska told me that they use parachutes that open on impact.
So in review:
Poland buys F-16's. Good for Poland.Why are you fixated on the financing-aspect? The only ones left in the cold are Dassault and Saab, who were the primary competitors of Lockheed on this deal.
Lockheed sells F-16's. Good for Lockheed.
The U.S. keeps a defense-contractor in business. Good for the U.S.
Oh, and the deal was worth $3+ billion. It is estimated that the ancillary deals are worth $100+ million.
Hey dude! The Poles that escaped out of the German/Russian vise in WW2 fought like tigers. They dinguished themselves at Cassino and Arnhem. You guys can also drink any sissy EU country under the table!
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