ghostrider883

Great work Marcelo.....one of my favourite helos Any chance of some Indian AF skins for it ? IAF Mi-8 "Rana" Image gallery Mi-8 "Rana" Specs

Weaponised version of Dhruv makes maiden flight

None of the dedicated attack helicopters can do what the Mi-17 gunships did in the 1999 Indo-Pak Kargil War. The Mi-17s were providing fire support to the advancing Indian Army in the Kargil heights. There was no way our Mi-25s/35s could operate at that altitude(nor can any other dedicated attack helo). Rocket and gunpod armed Mi-17s effectively supressed the Pakistanis who has occupied those heights. Though one Mi-17 was lost to Pakistani Stinger. But that's a different story. Later IAF fighter bombers bombed the crap out of the Pakistanis. The Dhruvs are built to fly in high altitude areas. It may not be able to carry as much fire powere as the Mi-17(six rocket pods), but an armed Dhruv can still be effective.

The Su-30 designation for the Flanker series is for the twin seater variants. Su-30 operators India : Su-30K Su-30MK Su-30MKI Malaysia: Su-30MKM China: Su-30MKK(PLAAF) Su-30MKK2(PLANAF) Venezuela: Su-30MKV(MK2) Vietnam: Su-30MK Russia: SU-27UB/Su-30MK Differences in the variants lie in the equipment used in them. For e.g, the Indian Su-30MKI is equipped with Israeli, French and Russian systems. It is also equipped with TVC nozzles and canards. The Malysian Su-30MKM is similar to the MKI except that in place of Israeli equipment, it has French systems onboard. The Su-30MKI is manufactured in India under license by HAL. Note : Su-30KI desigantion was given to an upgraded single seat Su-27 meant for the Indonesian Air Force. ANd so far it is the only "single seat" Su-30.

And I will make those MiG-21 Bison serial number decals once I get back home and have a look at those serial numbers list .

The Type 74 had a single cannon on the starboard side. It also had a different antenna configuration when compared to other MiG-21Fs.(all of which have been accurately represented in Mirage Factory's model). Gp-9 was never used on early IAF MiG-21s(Type 74 & Type 76). Only the Type 77 was rigged up to carry the GP-9. Here's some trivia for you, one of the first IAF MiG-21FLs that carried out GP-9 gunpod trials was fitted with Gnat's Mk. IV predictor gunsight. You may also want to rig up the Type 96B to carry the Kh-66. My copy of 7 Sqdn history states that the No.7 Sqdn exchanged their Ms for MFs and carried out Kh-66 trials on the MFs as the Ms were not capable of carrying the Kh-66.

Kevin, I hope you know that the Mirage Factory released a dedicated Indian Type 74 model I had put together a list of actual IAF MiG-21 Bison serial numbers (CUXXXX series) based on pics, magazines and articles for someone who said he may work on a dedicated MiG-21-93 3d model later. Unfortunately I have those numbers in my PC at home(I am away from home now and it will take a few days before I get back home) . An idea for you, may be you can use Phamtuan's No.7 Sqdn IAF "Battle Axes" skin (can be found at Major Lee's) for either the Type 96 or 96B since the Battle Axes flew both types duting their MiG-21 days. I have the sqdn's offical history and there are lots of wonderful bits of information from their MiG-21 days.

For the 21PF & FL, you could use Mago's MiG-21PF pit, for the 21M & MF, Mago's MiG-21MF pit is perfect. Type 75 & Bison are not possible to duplicate in game due to lack of proper models and ckpts. Indian MiG-21 designations: MiG-21F-13 - Type 74 MiG-21PF - Type 76 MiG-21FL - Type 77 (license produced by HAL) MiG-21M - Type 96( license produced by HAL) MiG-21MF - Type 96B MiG-21bis - Type 75( license produced by HAL) MiG-21U/UM - Type 66/66B MiG-21 bis UPG - Bison (bis airframes upgraded by HAL)

Speaking of those IAF MiG-21s(T-76,77, 96, 96B), has any one seen howling1 around? Been a while since he last posted. Hope he is doing ok.

yeah, had the same reaction when i first read about it An F-104B flown by Flight Leiutenant Aftab Alam Khan of No 9 Squadron Sargodha, on a high speed reconnaissance mission over Halwara, on 9 September 1965. In 1965, what gave the pakistanis the guts to try out such a method was the lack of Indian Air Force's ability to intercept fast flying F-104s. They knew that the lone IAF MiG-21F/PF sqdn was not fully active and was not fully committed to the war. However, in 1971, the Pakistanis did not try using F-104Bs in such role and used Mirage IIIRPs instead, atleast the Mirage had a figting chance against IAF MiG-21FLs.

Kevin, The Pakistanis used their F-104Bs in the photo recon role in a very unique way in the 1965 war. The F-104Bs would fly in fast and low, pull up sharply over an Indian airfield, level out and fly inverted. The Back seater would just click away with his camera.

Thanks SD. Great pics . Were SB042 and 044 the only Indian Flankers on display or were there other Flankers as well? Exercise Indradhanush kicked off. The second bilateral Indo-UK air exercise - 'Indradhanush-2007', involving the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF), got underway here at the Royal Air Force (RAF) base, Waddington, on Monday. The inaugural day, primarily for familiarization of the participating IAF Su-30 MKI aircrew with the flying environment in UK, saw them flying alongside RAF F3 Tornadoes of the XXV Squadron that are based at RAF Leeming, but are operating from Waddington alongside IAF Su-30 MKIs for the duration of the exercise. Also airborne were a Eurofighter Typhoon and a Hawk aircraft. "It will be a mutual learning experience for both", said Wing Commander AK Bharti, talking of the learning values in terms of inter-operability between the two air forces after returning from a sortie, of a four-aircraft formation comprising a Su-30 MKI, F3 Tornado, Typhoon and a Hawk. The 'airborne warning and control' (AWAC) system experience, a veritable electronic 'eye-in-the-sky' platform was also observed by few IAF personnel onboard an E3-D Sentry AWAC aircraft belonging to RAF's No. 8 Fighter Squadron, based here in Waddington. The E3-D Sentry and the F3 Tornadoes also participated in the first series of Exercise Indradhanush-2006, held at Gwalior in India, last year. The exercise between two simulated air elements, the "Red Air" (aggressors) and the "Blue Air" (defenders) forces will have the training element for the latter. Missions comprising multiple aircraft will form some of the intrinsic training missions, some of them highly advanced and complex missions. Mediating between the two will be the "White" force, who remain neutral and whose decisions will be the last word, to mitigate differences, if any. They comprise 'observers' from both sides, and include members from the IAF's 'Tactics and Combat Development Establishment' (TACDE) and the RAF's 'Air Warfare Centre' (AWC), the premiere institutions of the two air forces, constituting the 'best-amongst-the-best' aircrew and personnel on both sides.

SD, that pic of the Su-30MKI taking off would be a perfect as loading screen for Marcelo's upcoming SU-30MKI.

Pakistani Starfighters were fitted with a flare dispenser. In one of the MiG-21 vs F-104 engagements in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, an IAF MiG-21FL fired a K-13 at a PAF F-104A, it dispensed flares and broke away. That F-104A was eventually shot down by the MiG-21 using its GP-9 gunpod.

Great Pics SD . Any more pics of the Su-30MKI?

The IL-78MKI has three re-fuelling pods, two on the wings and one near the fin. It can refuel three fighters simultaneously. I had seen a pic of Two Su-30s and a Mirage 2000 refuelling simultaneously from an IL-78.

Marcelo, I was not able to find the Ajeet & Gnat drop tanks e-mail i had sent you earlier. Can you please look in your e-mail inbox for this particular e-mail.

Serials of participating IAF a/c: IL-76MD K2878 IL-76MD K2663 IL-78MKI RK3452 IL-78MKI RK3451 Su-30MKI SB041 Su-30MKI SB042 Su-30MKI SB043 Su-30MKI SB044 Su-30MKI SB103 Su-30MKI SB107 SB103 & 107 are license built MKIs by HAL.

That would be great SD. If you manage to get close to the MKIs, could you please try and get pictures of teh ejection seat and other warning decals painted near the cockpit? Have a look at the IL-76s. They do not have the 23mm cannon on the tail.

This is going to be great :yes: . I thought our Su-30MKIs would be flying with and against RAF Eurofighters? This also means the first overseas deployment of our Su-30MKIs. The MKIs that the Rhinos fly are Block III variants... the most advanced among the MKI Blocks.

Really? Ask IAF Fulcrum pilots. The MiG-29s were made to look silly when the bigger,heavier MKIs repeatedly and easily out manuevered the lighter Fulcrum using TVC. Before the Fulcrum could do anything, the MKI was on the MiG-29's tail

The MiG-21 Bison isn't called a tough Son of a Bis for nothing !!!! The Bisons with their Kopyo Radars were able to lock on and simulate launch of long range R-77 and R-27s much before the F-15s could locate the MiGs on its radar. RAM coating has been applied on many IAF fighters as well.

. Just couldn't stop laughing after verifying this. Time Travel!!!!!!! The lone MiG-23BN sqdn's last known crash was in 2004. Last known MiG-23MF crash was in 2002. April Fool's day. No such crash occured. Only losses in April were a Sea Harrier T.Mk.60 and a Cheetah helicopter. I know that IAF's participation in RIAT is a part of IAF's 75th anniversary celbrations and ts the MKI that will be attending RIAT and not Jaguars!!!!! so much for theMKI not being in demand

May be that's the reason why UK,US, French,Singapore air forces wanted to fly their jets against the MKI in joint exercises !!!!! Think before your post!!!! In case you didn't know ,it was the MiG-21 Bison's performance that left the American F-15 pilots shell shocked at Cope India 04. What they were expecting was an Iraqi type easy MiG-21 meat, but they were in for a huge shock when they went up against the Bison. Our Jaguars went round the world to Alaska and won laurels for their flying and leadership skills. Now our MKIs are going to UK for joint exercises and have been invited to UK's Air Tattoo show. Our Air Force is growing and earning respect all over the world and its pitiful and ignorant of you to make such comments.

BS. The crash rates of MiG-21s have come down drastically. They are not high as before. Elderly MiG-21s(FL/M/MF) are still flying but are slowly being phased out. The trouble is that the media tends to repor other MiG series crashes as MiG-21 crash.