Addressing Aditya’s post – the “Western” stream training on Kiran Mk IIs is a thing of the past. This used to be true in the Hunter days – most HOFTU people used to go to Jags/Hunters/Canberras/Ajeets. However even then it wasnt that clear cut – one of my friends went Kiran Mk1 -> Kiran Mk II ->Hunters->Ajeets->Mig-27->Mig-23BN!!! Also another friend went HPT-32 -> Kiran MK1 -> Mig-21FL-> Mig-21 Bis!! He had all of 75 hours of jet flying when he ended up starting operational training on the Mig-21!!! I am amazed the accident rate wasnt even more horrendous!

Now the assignment of aircraft is made at MOFTU stage. The real “hard” categorization (if there is one) is “Air Defence” and “Others” (ground attack mostly). To get into a Mirage 2000 squadron you almost always had to be in the Air Defence stream. Almost all the Mirage guys flew Mig-21 Bises. I know of a case where a Mig-23BN guy got posted to Mirages but was re-posted back to BNs after completing ground training. The Mirage CO said “if I get Flogger guys in here where do my Mig-21 guys go!”

I am sure there are Mirage 2000 guys who have flown the Su-30, especially some test pilots who would have evaluated it. There was scheme wherein relatively junior IAF pilots with a 21, 23BN, 27, Jag and other backgrounds were selected for Su-30 training – given a Mig-29 phase to consolidate and then moved to Su-30s.

It all depends is what I am saying!

Agree with Pegasus – I saw the G-222 display during a sales tour in 1979 to the Indian Air Force at Safdarjang airport (which is the flying club airport not the main airport in New Delhi). My school was under the pattern at that airport. Due to my old man being an IAF pilot I had seen lots of flying displays – but this one took the cake. Despite threats of expulsion – none of us left the playground till the display was complete.

Loops, rolls, stall turns all at incredibly low altitudes – with such a big aircraft made a huge impression. Those Romans are crazy* !!!!

* from Asterix.

Hi R Weaver,

I havent flown the Cub, most of my 35 hrs or so (including 10 hrs aerobatics) have been in Citabria 7GCAs and 7KCABs (the latter with inverted fuel, since its fuel injected). I re-learned how to really fly (after my PPL and some time in Cessna 152s, 172s and Beech T-34s) at Amelia Reids Aviation in San Jose, CA. (Their website is at http://www.ameliareid.com/)/

Flying taildraggers is just a more precise form of flying a Cessna – you have closer tolerances on attitude, drift and speed control. The control pressures on the Citabria were 1/4th of those I was used to in the Cessnas. Control coordination (especially use of rudder) was vital in all manuevers – I learned how really to do a balanced turn, how to slideslip and how to keep flying the aircraft till it was shut down and tied down! All in all it made me a real stick and rudder pilot. I fly the Cessna the same way now – I am a much better pilot for it.

Here are some other schools in and around the Seattle area that you might consider

Avian Flight Center http://www.avianflight.com/
This is in Bremerton, about 25 miles south of Seattle

Northwest School of Aviation (at Paine Field in Everett)
http://www.northwestschoolofaviation.com/

Pro Aire – in Arlington, WA. 25 miles north of Seattle – this is were the “Oshkosh of the Northwest ” (the EAA Arlington fly-in) is held.
http://rollie-mike.freeyellow.com/flightschool.html
These guys have a Cessna 170 taildragger for rent, which I will be flying

Snohomish Flying Service (15 miles North East of Seattle)
http://www.snohomishflying.com/

And for the fun stuff
Kenmore Air (for Seaplane ratings)
http://www.kenmoreair.com/instruction.html

Seattle Seaplanes (they have a Stinson 108 on floats for rent at $55 /hr!)
http://www.seattleseaplanes.com/pages/Instruction.html

When you get here do give me a shout!

A