Congratulation to 8 PAF block 52 Pilots.

[Super Falcon]

wellll congrats to alll of them but the F 16 in photo is not a block 52 F 16

 

[Frankenstein]

congrats to all of em!,

 

[Kinshuk]

I am the first Indian on this thread.. Congratulations to these lucky 8. Pride and Glory..

 

[Windjammer]

Would appreciate names of all these guys for record keeping. Ask your friend. Quite literally our first line of defence!

From L to R Sqn Ldr Shirjil Khan, Sqn Ldr Yasir Malik, Sqn Ldr Ghazi Salahud Din, Wing Cdr Ghazanfar Latif, Sqn Ldr Omair Najmi, Sqn Ldr Azman Khalil, Sqn Ldr Nabeel Masood, Sqn Ldr Zeesham Munawar Ali.

 

[Wingman]

Thankyou "WindJammer"

Best Regards,

Wingman

 

[dexter]

I hpoe PAF will get more F-16 52s by 2012 !!
Anyways congrats!!

 

[sonicboom]

​

Pakistan Air Force Squadron Leader Azman Khalil, left, goes over flight information with Capt. Andy Wittke, an instructor pilot with the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing, before a training mission April 27, 2010. Khalil and seven other Pakistani pilots graduated from F-16C/D upgrade training at Tucson International Airport on May 4, 2010. (Photo by Master Sgt. Dave Neve, Arizona National Guard)

​

Lt. Col. Alex Wilson (right) and Pakistan air force squadron leader Shirjil Kahn prepare for an F-16 Fighting Falcon training flight April 27, 2010, at Tucson International Airport, Ariz. Colonel Wilson is an instructor pilot at the 162nd Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Dave Neve)

In preparation for the June delivery, the eight pilots and their families will have spent 10 months in the United States navigating the upgrade training pipeline.

They spent two and half months reviewing military aviation terminology at the Defense Language Institute at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and seven months in flight training at Tucson International Airport. Since the C/D-models used for training in Tucson are block 25 F-16s, they will next undergo two weeks of additional block 52 instruction before returning to Pakistan.

"Even though they're flying block 25s here, they will still be able to operate their block 52s back home. When they leave here they will get training from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, on the differences," said Lt. Col. Kelly Parkinson, 195th Fighter Squadron commander. "The two blocks fly the same; it's essentially the employment of weapons that makes the difference."

The bulk of their flight training in Tucson included a transition course from the F-16A/B to the F-16C/D, flight lead upgrade training and instructor pilot certification.

"We're training these eight pilots so they can return home and be instructors themselves and teach others to fly the new F-16s," said Parkinson, a 22-year fighter pilot.

"I think the training here is very well organized and tailored to our needs, also the standards here are very high," said Latif. "This is going to make a big difference because we do not have the capability to make precision engagements at night with A-models. Everybody understands that collateral damage is a big factor and the sensors on the C-model will help us carry out precision engagement and close air support."

With so much to learn, the students flew a rigorous schedule of five flights per week. The average student tempo is closer to three per week.

"The radar, datalink and other avionics help create the big picture of what is going on around you. There's lots of information to process in the C-model, so you have to prioritize all of the input you are getting," said Squadron Leader Yasir Malik. "But these instructors know what they are doing and they are good teachers."

Maj. Windy Hendrick, a flight commander and 13-year F-16 pilot, has instructed students from all over the world. She said she and her fellow instructors learned a great deal about their Pakistani counterparts.

"They are all experienced pilots with 500 to 1,800 fighter hours in the F-16, and the majority of that time is combat hours in the fight against extremists," she said. "They are very humble and don't talk about their experience, but the more we learn about them and all they've done it makes us proud to be their instructors."

"They are very dedicated, hard working and they have great attitudes. Their presence in the squadron has been a real pleasure."

It's unclear if more student pilots from Pakistan will train in Tucson; however, according to Colonel Parkinson, the 162nd stands ready.

"Training capable fighter pilots for our partner-nation air forces and fostering relationships in the world-wide F-16 community is what we do. We will continue to help train Pakistan's pilots whenever we're needed," he said.

The National Guard - F-16 training bolsters U.S., Pakistan relations

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Just by looking at their ranks and judging their age by their appearnce, these are all very senior flyers of paf---so possibly are the future trainers/instructors of blk 52 for other pak pilots in pakistan!!!

 

[Jazzbot]

gr8 news for Pakistan.

 

[subanday]

Would appreciate names of all these guys for record keeping. Ask your friend. Quite literally our first line of defence!

Congrats n Bravo...

Is one of our pilot wearing a stealth helmet or some other classified technology, it is very different from normal non-stealth helmets !!

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Dont know why but looking at the group photos of these pilots reminds me of that song from village people YMCA!!!!

 

[Irfan Baloch]

wellll congrats to alll of them but the F 16 in photo is not a block 52 F 16

they are block 25 as said by the American instructor

 

[umair86]

only difference is between Blk 25 and 52 are that later has the upgraded versions of the same avionics like APG-68v9 purpose was that to get the crew familiar with the layout of C/D versions

 

[Sapper]

only difference is between Blk 25 and 52 are that later has the upgraded versions of the same avionics like APG-68v9 purpose was that to get the crew familiar with the layout of C/D versions

Can anyone tell me if any of these pilots have trained using JHMCS ?

Regards,
Sapper

 

[thunder rules]

great but 18 block 52s are too less pakistan should have them at least 50..