Lankan fighter aircraft collide midair
Sutirtho Patranobis, Hindustan Times
Colombo, March 01, 2011
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Two Sri Lankan fighter aircraft collided midair on Tuesday morning while rehearsing for a fly past to be held during the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lankan air force (SLAF) on Wednesday. Unconfirmed reports said one of the two pilots died while ejecting. The accident involving the Israeli-made Kfir jets occurred over Gampaha, a district to the north of Colombo, about 30 km from the Capital.
Two SLAF helicopters were dispatched to the crash site soon after the crash was reported. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the site, the Presidential Secretariat said.
The accident has happened within a day of air vice marshal Harsha Abeywickreme taking over as SLAF chief.
Week-long celebrations to mark the 60th year of SLAF were slated to begin from Wednesday with Rajapaksa presiding over the inauguration as the chief guest.
Several SLAF aircraft including five Kfir jets are expected to be part of the fly past.
The air show is expected to feature air combat maneuvers and aerobatic displays by SLAF and international teams, simulated air to ground attacks by jets and attack helicopters and simulated hostage rescue operation with SLAF special forces paratroopers and aircraft. But Tuesday’s collision has now put a question mark on the celebration.
Other than the Kfirs, SLAF has the Russian-made MiG 27 and Chinese F7 and F5 aircraft in the fighter jet repertoire.
Sutirtho Patranobis, Hindustan Times
Colombo, March 01, 2011
======================================================
Two Sri Lankan fighter aircraft collided midair on Tuesday morning while rehearsing for a fly past to be held during the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lankan air force (SLAF) on Wednesday. Unconfirmed reports said one of the two pilots died while ejecting. The accident involving the Israeli-made Kfir jets occurred over Gampaha, a district to the north of Colombo, about 30 km from the Capital.
Two SLAF helicopters were dispatched to the crash site soon after the crash was reported. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the site, the Presidential Secretariat said.
The accident has happened within a day of air vice marshal Harsha Abeywickreme taking over as SLAF chief.
Week-long celebrations to mark the 60th year of SLAF were slated to begin from Wednesday with Rajapaksa presiding over the inauguration as the chief guest.
Several SLAF aircraft including five Kfir jets are expected to be part of the fly past.
The air show is expected to feature air combat maneuvers and aerobatic displays by SLAF and international teams, simulated air to ground attacks by jets and attack helicopters and simulated hostage rescue operation with SLAF special forces paratroopers and aircraft. But Tuesday’s collision has now put a question mark on the celebration.
Other than the Kfirs, SLAF has the Russian-made MiG 27 and Chinese F7 and F5 aircraft in the fighter jet repertoire.
(hindustan times)
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