Friday, June 15, 2012

Indian crew gets onboard Admiral Gorshkov

The home-coming of Russian-built aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov has got a major boost as the complete Indian crew has got on board the floating-deck carrier.

According to sources the Indian crew will be part of the flight trials on board Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, will begin soon.

 CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma after extensive tour of Vikramaditya in July last year
 
“The complete crew of Gorshkov – over a thousand people – has got on board the warship. The flight trials will begin soon and Russian fighter jets will undertake these trials,” sources added. The MiG-29 Ks fighter jets that will operate from this warship once it touches Indian shores on December 4 are presently conducting shore-based flying from Goa. The pilots have been undertaking training in the US to take off and land on an aircraft carrier.

“The crew of Gorshkov comprises of both experience sailors and fresher. Many of the crew-members have already served on board the Indian Navy’s lone aircraft carrier INS Viraat,” sources added. While the delivery date of the warship is fixed certain trials of the aircraft carrier will be done post its induction in the force.

The platform will be handed over to the Indian Navy finally sometime in November this year thereafter it will begin its voyage to Indian shores.

1 comment: