I have been in many airline flights since I came to Mactan to work for this great Airport. But this morning was different. We were seated at aisle 19 and I had a great view of the length of the cabin of a new Airbus 320 of Cebu Pacific. After the flight attendants had finished the safety briefing, and the final take off instructions were announced, we were airborne.
Most people cannot imagine how much it takes to launch an aircraft and bring it back safely to its destination. And how fast aviation has progressed since the first take off at Kitty Hawk in 1903, to the first man on the moon in July of 1969, to the intricate systems of space satellites and shuttle flights of the new millennium. But through it all, man has not changed, as he continuous to marvel at the seeming simplicity of air travel.
I looked out the airplane window and stared at the various combinations of cumulous forming clouds below us and the sea of stratus layers much higher. I gradually got lost in time...and I found myself strapped to my F-5A Freedom Fighter, flying by myself at “angels 20” (20,000 feet) and cruising at Mach .8 (0.8 times the speed of sound). I made an abrupt 60-degree bank to the left, shove both throttles to full and dived to reach the speed of sound, and finally made it, in a shallow full afterburner descent.
I have made many such flights in an air force fighter, done loops and rolls and cartwheels in three-dimensional airspace – enjoying flight in its purest sense, while also performing air defense missions in support of national development.
Our Air Force Is 60
Our Air Force was number one in Southeast Asia in the 60s. And yes, we were also number one in the aviation industry then. For where the air force goes, the air industry goes. And in the air force, “where the fighters go, the air force goes.” We had the most modern fighter aircraft in the 60s. The parking ramps at Basa Air Base at Floridablanca, Pampanga, were full of T-33s, F-86Ds, F-86Fs and F5s, the best mix of fighters there could ever be. Then the F-8H Crusaders came in the 70s, replacing the last of the Korean War vintage F-86s.
In the 80s, the whole nation had witnessed the wide spectrum of influence air power holds in the outcome of conflicts. The Philippine Air Force played a most vital role during these turbulent times. However in the 90s, when the American Forces left, 60 percent of the funds used to maintain all the high value assets of the PAF went away with the closing of the US Bases. Last October 1, 2005, the last F-5 landed, never to fly again. Since then, the PAF has focused on Counter Insurgency, Disaster Relief and Search and Rescue missions.
The PAF became an independent major service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in July 1, 1947. For 60 years, its men and women dedicated their lives to serve the nation. Here at Mactan, the 2nd Tactical Operations Wing, with other PAF units at Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base, is a vital part and important member of the Airport team.
I attended the PAF 60-years celebration last July 3 at Villamor Air Base. The Commander-in-Chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, expressed the nation’s gratitude for the accomplishments of the PAF. She also proudly stated, “From now on, we will procure brand new airplanes…” Also for the first time, the Chiefs of the 10 ASEAN Air Forces attended and became one with the dream that started here at Mactan during the ASEAN Summit.
...As Cebu Pacific flight 5J561 lowered its gears, flaps full down, final approach speed locked and finally made its touchdown, it was as if I was landing that faithful F-5A Freedom Fighter back home.
E-mail: danfrancia@mactan-cebuairport.com.ph