We ready 12 helicopters, yet we fly only eight
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will continue its drills to ensure that F-16 Fighting Falcon manoeuvres forming the number “77” on a flypast during Independence Day on August 17 will be smooth.
Indonesian Air Force Information Office Head Air Commodore Indan Gilang B stated that the “77” formation in the flypast demands a high level of accuracy from the F-16 pilots.
“The flypast demands high accuracy to form the number ’77’. It seems easy despite training and sufficient capability that are needed to (conduct the flypast),” Gilang stated during the air demo rehearsal for the 77th Indonesian Independence Day commemoration at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airfield here, Monday.
The air commodore highlighted the need for precision to ensure the formation will appear above the State Palace on time while taking into account Jakarta’s weather conditions and potential obstructions from skyscrapers.
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“They need to calculate it precisely. They are demanded to conceive an attractive performance with the safety of the aircraft, the pilot, or residents below, all assured,” he affirmed.
A total of 18 F-16 military jets from Iswahjudi Airfield’s Air Squadron 3 from Magetan, East Java, and Roesmin Nurjadin Airfield’s Air Squadron 16 from Pekanbaru, Riau, will be deployed for the air demo, he stated.
“We ready 18 F-16 military jets, but only 16 units will fly, while two other jets are for backup,” Gilang noted.
Apart from the performance of military jets, the air demo will also showcase eight helicopters from the Indonesian Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Police flying with a giant national flag above the State Palace, the air commodore revealed.
The helicopter group will comprise EC-725 Caracal and NAS-332 Super Puma helicopters from the Air Force, two AH-64 Apache helicopters from the Army, two AS-565 Mbe Panther helicopters from the Navy, and two AW-169 helicopters from the Police, he expounded.
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“We ready 12 helicopters, yet we fly only eight. Thus, each helicopter will have a backup, and if a helicopter were to malfunction, the replacement would (be on) standby,” Gilang stated.
He pointed out that pilots were necessitated to undergo intensive training to command their helicopters, with the 1.3-ton giant flag tethered below.
As the two manoeuvres require high accuracy and precision, F-16 and helicopter pilots will also coordinate and practice with each other to ensure the smoothness of the performance during Independence Day, he added.
“Today’s practice goes according to the plan. We hope the performance later will be safe and smooth,” Gilang remarked.
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