PAF gets 8 aircraft today from US, Thailand

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is scheduled to receive today eight hand-me-down aircraft, some of them from the United States government, to augment its depleted fleet.

In a statement, Air Force public information chief Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla said the aircraft are four OV-10C Broncos, two UH-1H Huey helicopters, an SF-260 Marchetti and an N-22 Nomad.

The four Broncos were donated by Thailand while the rest came from the US.

President Arroyo said Washington’s commitment to provide military assistance to the Philippines is the "fruit" of her state visits to the US since 2001.

The President noted these latest air assets follow the delivery of the US naval cyclone earlier this year to the Philippine Navy.

"That (cyclone) was the fruit of my official visit to Washington DC in November 2001," Mrs. Arroyo said. "It takes time for these US military assistance to come about because the US armed forces have to look for and source where to get these military hardware from."

The turnover of the eight aircraft would bring to 32 the total number "recovered" under the Aircraft Recovery Program since outgoing Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Nestor Santillan assumed office more than one and a half years ago. Santillan retires on Friday.

Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita will be guest of honor at the turnover and blessing of the aircraft to be held at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

"It is significant to note that the PAF effectively carried out much of the recovery program without the benefit of any additional budget," Padilla said.

The Huey helicopters, he said, are the principal air workhorses utilized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in all its field operations. It is primarily used for troop transport, medical evacuations, re-supply and other air-to-ground support missions.

Hueys are also used for disaster relief and rehabilitation missions as well as search and rescue operations during peacetime.

The SF-Marchetti is an Italian-manufactured aircraft primarily built as a basic trainer transport. The PAF, however, has converted some of these into air-to-ground support aircraft.

It is armed with 7.62 sub-machineguns and can carry an assortment of ordnance like rockets and bombs, Padilla said.

The N-22 Nomad is a high-wing, twin-engine light aircraft primarily used by the AFP for light lift missions such as VIP transport, air evacuation, reconnaissance and maritime patrol, aerial photo, rain-making, command liaison and other administrative missions.

All recently recovered aircraft will be deployed immediately in various area commands where they are needed, Padilla said.

The PAF has eight more aircraft undergoing recovery and are expected to be commissioned back into service before year-end.

The PAF also expects the delivery of some 20 more newly refurbished helicopters by the end of June and five more by the year’s end, Padilla said.

Meanwhile, the President told The STAR she is still awaiting recommendations from the AFP’s Board of Generals as to who would be named next Air Force chief.

"They (AFP personnel) are too busy right now in their election duties and I’m happy they are quite successful in ensuring peace and order (during the elections)," she said.