The air force plans to buy a new two - seater trainer aircraft
for basic pilot training.
The search for a new trainer to replace the Italian - made
Aermacchi S.211 comes at a time when the Republic of Singaore Air
Force (RSAF) is replacing some of its frontine fighter
aircraft.
After 31 years of service, the Skyhawk warplanes were retired on
March 31 and in the coming months a decision is expected to be made
on its replacements - a new advanced fighter.
For the new trainer, the contenders include the Aermacchi M-311 jet
trainer from Italy, Embraer Super Tucano from Brazil, Korea
Aerospace Industries KT-1 from South Korea, Pilatus PC-21 from
Switzerland and Raytheon's T-6B Texan II from the United States.
Aside from the Italian M-311, all the planes are powered by a
turboprop.
Mindef declined to comment on the tender.
The RSAF fleet of Italian - made Aermacchi S.211 trainers entered
service from late 1984. After serveral mishaps, fewer than 24 of
the original 30 S.211 are still in service.
These 20 - years old aircraft were flown by the RSAF's Flying
Training School at the Royal Australian Air Force's Pearce Base
near Perth, in western Australian. Here, all trainee pilot have to
undergo a nine - month basic training course to determine if they
will fly fighter jets, transport planes or helicopters.
Industry sources said that the RSAF will probably need fewer than
30 new trainers to replace the old fleet. They explained that
improvements in technology to allow air forces to to fly such
trainers more intensively than older models... - Straits Times,
Home H6 12/04/05
