RMAF Creates History Flying C-130 Into Russia
IRKUTSK (Russia), May 26 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has created history by flying into Russia a C-130 -- the first transport aircraft of its kind said to have been ever allowed into Russian air space.
The historic moment came on May 23 when the RMAF C-130 Hercules touched down at the airport in this far eastern city, bringing along several RMAF senior officers and journalists and 15 aircraft crew to attend the handing over of Sukhoi SU-30MKM multi-role fighter aircraft to the RMAF. Malaysian Chief of Air Force Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin piloted the aircraft into Russian air space on the tailend of the flight that had covered a distance of 6,500 km over four countries -- Thailand, Vietnam, China and Mongolia.
"I asked them whether any Hercules had landed in Irkutsk before and they told me RMAF was the first to do so," Azizan today told the Malaysian journalists accompanying him. The aircraft had taken off from the RMAF base in Subang on Tuesday for the 19-hour flight to Irkutsk. It made refuelling stops in Hanoi and Beijing.
Azizan said that though Russia is very sensitive about the entry into its air space of military aircraft of any foreign country, the RMAF Hercules was granted permission without much hassle. A pilot of the RMAF Hercules, Lt Kol Norazam Hassan, said the flight over Thailand, Vietnam, China and Mongolia did not encounter problems.
"There was a bit of turbulence when we approached Beijing," he said, adding that the RMAF had made preparations for the flight to Irkutsk two weeks earlier. Azizan also said that the Hercules flight heralded the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Russia this year. He said the military relations between both countries were also at their best and the Russian air force leaders thanked Malaysia for buying the Sukhoi SU-30MKM and MiG-29N fighter aircraft.
Malaysia signed an agreement with Russia to buy 18 Sukhoi SU-30MKM aircraft valued at RM3.42 billion in May 2003. On Thursday, RMAlF took delivery of two SU-30MKM aircraft while the rest will be delivered by the end of the year and mid-2008.
In early 1990s, RMAF bought 18 MiG-29N jet fighters from Russia. Azizan said the Russian air force chief telephoned him while he was attending the handing-over of the Sukhoi SU-30MKM aircraft to thank Malaysia for buying the fourth generation aircraft.
Source : The Bernama
The historic moment came on May 23 when the RMAF C-130 Hercules touched down at the airport in this far eastern city, bringing along several RMAF senior officers and journalists and 15 aircraft crew to attend the handing over of Sukhoi SU-30MKM multi-role fighter aircraft to the RMAF. Malaysian Chief of Air Force Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin piloted the aircraft into Russian air space on the tailend of the flight that had covered a distance of 6,500 km over four countries -- Thailand, Vietnam, China and Mongolia.
"I asked them whether any Hercules had landed in Irkutsk before and they told me RMAF was the first to do so," Azizan today told the Malaysian journalists accompanying him. The aircraft had taken off from the RMAF base in Subang on Tuesday for the 19-hour flight to Irkutsk. It made refuelling stops in Hanoi and Beijing.
Azizan said that though Russia is very sensitive about the entry into its air space of military aircraft of any foreign country, the RMAF Hercules was granted permission without much hassle. A pilot of the RMAF Hercules, Lt Kol Norazam Hassan, said the flight over Thailand, Vietnam, China and Mongolia did not encounter problems.
"There was a bit of turbulence when we approached Beijing," he said, adding that the RMAF had made preparations for the flight to Irkutsk two weeks earlier. Azizan also said that the Hercules flight heralded the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Russia this year. He said the military relations between both countries were also at their best and the Russian air force leaders thanked Malaysia for buying the Sukhoi SU-30MKM and MiG-29N fighter aircraft.
Malaysia signed an agreement with Russia to buy 18 Sukhoi SU-30MKM aircraft valued at RM3.42 billion in May 2003. On Thursday, RMAlF took delivery of two SU-30MKM aircraft while the rest will be delivered by the end of the year and mid-2008.
In early 1990s, RMAF bought 18 MiG-29N jet fighters from Russia. Azizan said the Russian air force chief telephoned him while he was attending the handing-over of the Sukhoi SU-30MKM aircraft to thank Malaysia for buying the fourth generation aircraft.
Source : The Bernama
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