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.
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