Infrastructure building has started
full throttle at Hindon air base on the fringes of the national capital for
operation of the Indian Air Force's largest aircraft - the Boeing's C-17
Globemaster III.
The beast will roughly have double the capacity of the
present Russian heavy lifters in the IAF - the Ilyushin IL-76s - which they are
set to replace.
The 20-odd Il-76 presently operated by the IAF can air lift
around 45 tonnes of load, whereas C-17 is capable of transporting 70 tonnes of
load - military hardware and troops - at
small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world day or night.
"Infrastructure development has started at the Hindon
airbase. Boeing – the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is building the
facilities like hangars and crew room for the aircraft and the unit operating
it," sources said. The infrastructure will be swanky and comparable to the
US airbases.
C-17s will be the second unit of strategic airlifters to
have been stationed in the National Capital Region. Earlier, a squadron of
Lockheed Martin's C-130 Js was stationed at Hindon - a decision taken in the
aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to facilitate quick movement of
troops and weapons and to air drop them where they are needed.
The aircraft is wide enough to accommodate two trucks side
by side and can carry two-three helicopters easily. The IAF was looking at a
heavy lifter that can operate from short runways like Kargil. The C-17s
impressed the IAF during field trials as it took off from the Kangra airport by
using only 1500 feet of the runway just after touchdown. Just like its American
cousin C-130 Js the C-17s can also taxi in reverse gear when required.
"As the first of the aircraft will be ready by January
2013, the training of the IAF pilots has also begun," sources added. A
total of 10 crews - including 20 pilots and 10 loadmasters will be trained by
the Boeing.
India had signed $ 4.1 billion contract, one of the largest
defence deals with the US, to purchase 10 C-17s and with the contract the IAF
will became one of the biggest operator of the aircraft in the world after the
US Air Force. As the aircraft is being manufactured in the US, the first flight
is expected in Jan 2013 and the IAF will get its first C-17 by June 2013. The next
9 will come home by 2014.
Notwithstanding its massive size- 174 ft length, 55 ft
height and about 170 ft wingspan - the aircraft can be operated by three-member
crew. The two-decade old IL-76s require a minimum of six crew members and a
gunner.
Flown with the help of a joystick the four-engine aircraft
can take off quickly at a short distance and steep angles.
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