Planes land on roads as Taiwan simulates war

[KashifAsrar]

This is something unsual. A news in ToI dated 16 May 2007.
Kashif

Planes land on roads as Taiwan simulates war ​

Taipei: Six Taiwanese jet fighters swooped down on a highway in central Taiwan on Tuesday, as the island responded to a simulated attack from rival China at the start of three days of extensive war games.
The 23rd annual Hankuang military exercises come with President Chen Shui-bian entering the last year of his eight-year presidency and tensions between Beijing and Taipei on a relatively low burner. Hankuang means Chinese Glory.
The two sides split amid civil war in 1949, and China insists it will attack if the democratic island moves to formalise its de facto independence.
Now, with Chen set to leave office in May 2008, and his independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party lagging in the race to replace him, tensions between Taiwan and China have eased.
In Tuesday’s exercises, Taiwanese Mirages, F-16s and Indigenous Defense Fighters swooped down onto a highway in Changhua county, had their fuel tanks and munitions pods topped off by air force personnel and took off to face another wave of imagined attackers from the mainland.
Squadron leader Lt Col Wang Kai-ming said pilots involved in the landing felt a lot of pressure because of the unusual nature of the runway. “It was very difficult to do this,” he said. “But we were successful in accomplishing our mission.” AP

 

[Neo]

PAF has done the same in the past. In 1971 National Highway was used as runway for the Mirages.
My uncle built that highway.

 

[Bull]

Bicylces cant be used on our highways, forget the mirages. lol

 

[Neo]

My claim is true Bull.
I was too youg to remember but my parents told me about it. Sir Murad would confirm it.

 

[Bull]

My claim is true Bull.
I was too youg to remember but my parents told me about it. Sir Murad would confirm it.

I was mocking the conditions of Indian roads....i guess u got me wrong.

 

[Neo]

I'm not sure about the current status of the National Highway either Bull, it was new in 1971 when the Mirages landed there.

 

[solid snake]

I don't think regular highways can withstand the weight of a fully loaded jet. I'd be really surprised if the highway surface wasn't damaged by the Taiwanese exercise.

 

[Keysersoze]

Yeah I have seen something similar in Finland. There are even aircraft storage bunkers alongside the roads in certain places.

Most runways are in fact regular roads. Some of the race tracks in the U.K. are former airfields.

 

[Muradk]

My claim is true Bull.
I was too youg to remember but my parents told me about it. Sir Murad would confirm it.

Yes Neo we did and in 2002 we closed the motor way from Pindi to Lahore and landed F-7Ps,
I think I have a photo of it landing and taking off. Let me find it.

 

[Neo]

Thank you Sir!
I didn't know about 2002, was that during an excersise?
Would love to see pics, both 1971 and 2002.

 

[Adux]

It would be something if a moutain aircraft can land in the Indian highways.!!!!! It is in such bad shape.

 

[Officer of Engineers]

In the case of the original article, there are roads designed to be seconded as runways and also the RoCAF have 2ndary runways that are not used and hiddened.

 

[kvLin]

Hanguang 23,taiwan

it's Huatan sect on zhongshan highway. not a hidden one.

They did at least 2 things before the exercise:
1. get rid of the detritus on the highway, especially for F-16 who has ventral intake.
2. remove the guardrail.