Last flight of the S-211
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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 -
The tender will be handled by the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), the national authority for defence procurements and military technlology. Sources said that the next stage of the tender should take place in the second quarter of this year.
This will see DSTA "request for proposals" from the companies which had said they are keen to bid. The companies will be asked to send proposals around August. The Defence Ministry and DSTA have set aside time in August and September for officals to go over the bids. The contract should be signed by in the first quarter of next year. - The Straits Times Home H6 12/04/05 -
the t6 was recently in singapore. hell of a nice bird.
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A report on the S.311
http://www.aviationnow.com/shownews/04farn/top01_4.htm
S.311 also M346 Gallery
http://www.aermacchi.it/Company/Gallery/GaYAK.htm
Enjoy
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Good Bye S211! Great plane to fly!
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6 planes down in 20 years and you call it good plane..Originally posted by Josky:Good Bye S211! Great plane to fly! -
It is for basic training, what do you expect when the pilots are still greenhorns to steering planes?Originally posted by SMAPLionHeart:6 planes down in 20 years and you call it good plane.. -
sometime not aircraft fault, my fren last time trainee pilot, said somebody forgot to lower landing gear, then there was another time the engine suck in some rock and pierce thru the fuselage while taking off, the pilot had to eject!
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QUICK! Any fravourites to as the S211 replacement?
I prefer the PC21. Why?
1) its performance is comparable to a modern jet fighter;
2) as it will be base in Pearce AB, and since the RAAF already operates the PC-9 series (itself being the 'ancestor' of the PC21), parts could be easily obtain and the RAAF technicians could train our technicians.
Any takers? -
PC-21? It's still so raw with all the teething problems. Only the prototypes are flying now and one jus crashed recently, killing the test pilot. The fleet has been grounded. Wonder if they have started flying yet.Originally posted by Black Aces:QUICK! Any fravourites to as the S211 replacement?
I prefer the PC21. Why?
1) its performance is comparable to a modern jet fighter;
2) as it will be base in Pearce AB, and since the RAAF already operates the PC-9 series (itself being the 'ancestor' of the PC21), parts could be easily obtain and the RAAF technicians could train our technicians.
Any takers? -
L-39 Albatross!Originally posted by Black Aces:QUICK! Any fravourites to as the S211 replacement?
I prefer the PC21. Why?
1) its performance is comparable to a modern jet fighter;
2) as it will be base in Pearce AB, and since the RAAF already operates the PC-9 series (itself being the 'ancestor' of the PC21), parts could be easily obtain and the RAAF technicians could train our technicians.
Any takers? -
The T-6 would be my aircraft of choice....those of you who've seen the movie Iron Eagle IV, will know why
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Har? T-6? You are not referring to the Harvard T-6 are you? That plane was the standard USN' military trainer........in WWII!
We are not training HellCat or Corsair or Mustang or SpitFire pilots here are we?
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The T-6 was also an attack plane in early Vietman War, bf it was replaced by skyraider.Originally posted by Black Aces:Har? T-6? You are not referring to the Harvard T-6 are you? That plane was the standard USN' military trainer........in WWII!
We are not training HellCat or Corsair or Mustang or SpitFire pilots here are we?
Pls note the bottom message. -
Embraer Super Tucano!! Coolest and most likely, the most cost effective.
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/super_tucano/ -
Not really. I was referring to the Raytheon T-6.Originally posted by Black Aces:Har? T-6? You are not referring to the Harvard T-6 are you? That plane was the standard USN' military trainer........in WWII!
We are not training HellCat or Corsair or Mustang or SpitFire pilots here are we?
Here, let me enlighten you.
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jet trainers are easier to fly than turboprop trainers....
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Isn't all the turboprops derivatives of the same design? The PC-7? Just different manufacturers rite?
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Strange that all the contenders are turboprops, except for one. Do they effectively train pilots for fast jets? Where's the good'ol BAe Hawk?
Side question: The SF-260s were retired long ago. What planes do they use for basic flying training? Or is the S211 the first plane a RSAF trainee will fly? -
RSAF moved to an All Jets Training System ever since it retired its fleet of sf-260s. nowadays, the only prop plane a trainee will fly is the CT-4b during air grading.(about 15 sorties only) Since air grading is more of a selection phase than a training phase. S211 is thecnically the basic plane a trainee starts of with. Thats why they call this phase of training with the S211 as the Basic Wings Course.
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abt time to replace.....