Images - Pakistan Air Force in the Mirror of History.

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K-8 KARAKORUM

(1994 till date)

The Hongdu JL-8 (or Nanchang JL-8), also known as the K-8 Karakorum, is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft built in joint-cooperation between the China (China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation) and Pakistan's (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex).

The first prototype was built in 1989, with the first flight taking place on 21 November 1990.

Pakistan Air Force received fourteen K-8 trainers in 1994, after which it decided to order 75 more to replace its fleet of
Cessna T-37 trainers. The latest development in the K-8 family is the K-8P version, which currently is operated by the Pakistan Air Force. K-8P has an advanced avionics package of integrated head-up displays and multi-function displays (MFD), MFD-integrated GPS and Instrument Landing System (ILS) / Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) systems.

The People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) received its first six K-8 trainers in 1998. Later upgrades to the Chinese model included an indigenously manufactured Chinese engine. The PLAAF is anticipated to continue adding the trainer to its fleet in order to replace older trainers that are now obsolete, such as the JJ-5 (FT-5).

Other nations have shown interest in the trainer and it now also serves in the air forces of Egypt, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. While the plane primarily serves as a trainer, it can also be used in the ground attack or even air combat role when appropriately armed.

In 2008 Venezuela announced the purchase of 18 K-8 aircraft. Currently the K-8 is being marketed by China to the air forces of the Philippines and to Indonesia, for replacing Indonesia's BAE Hawk MK.53 jet trainers. In 2009, the Bolivian government approved a deal to purchase 6 K-8P aircrafts for use in anti-drug operations.

 

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SHENYANG FT-5

(1970 till date)

The Shenyang J-5 / F-5 (Jianjiji-5 - Fighter-5) is a Chinese built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Soviet MiG-17. The J-5 was exported as the F-5 with the NATO reporting name "Fresco".

The Chinese developed F-5 into a two-seat trainer version of the MiG-17, designated the Chengdu JJ-5 (Jianjiji Jiaolianji - Fighter Trainer or FT-5), by combining the two-seat cockpit of the
MiG-15UTI, the VK-1A engine of the J-5, and the fuselage of the J-5A. All internal armament was removed and a single Nudelman-Richter NR-23 23 mm cannon was carried in a ventral pack.

Pakistan Air Force acquired FT-5s for use as advanced jet trainers / conversion aircraft.

 

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Pakistan Air Force used 63 T-37, Including 24 T-37Bs and 39 T-37Cs. In 2008 20 T-37s were delivered from the U.S.

 

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PAF Shenyang FT-5

The MiG-17 was license-built in both China and Poland. In the early 1950s, the PLAAF obtained a number of Soviet-built MiG-17 Fresco-A day fighters, designated "J-4" or, when passed on to other countries, "F-4". The Chinese obtained plans for the MiG-17F Fresco-C day fighter in 1955, along with two completed pattern aircraft, 15 knockdown kits, and parts for ten aircraft.

The first Chinese-built MiG-17F, produced by the Shenyang factory, performed its initial flight on 19 July 1956 with test pilot Wu Keming at the controls. The MiG-17F was known as the "J-5" in Chinese service, or "F-5" when it was exported. One was actually trialed as a torpedo bomber, but not surprisingly the concept never made it into formal service.

The Chinese then went on to produce the MiG-17PF interceptor as the "J-5A (F-5A)". Plans were obtained in 1961, but the country was in turmoil in the early 1960s and the first Chinese-built MiG-17PF, produced at the Chengdu factory, didn't fly until 1964, when the type was basically obsolete. It was given the designation of "J-5A (F-5A)". A total of 767 J-5s and J-5As were built to end of production in 1969.

Somewhat more practically, the Chinese built a two-seat trainer version of the MiG-17, designated the "JJ-5 (FT-5)". It was something of a hybrid, featuring the cockpit system of the MiG-15UTI / JJ-2, the non-afterburning VK-1A engine of the MiG-17 Fresco-A, and the larger airbrakes of the MiG-17F. It also had a protruding upper intake lip resembling that of the MiG-17PF, but the JJ-5 wasn't fitted with radar. All the nose armament was deleted, with the aircraft carrying a single NR-23 cannon in a belly pack. First flight was in 1968, with the type built at the Chengdu factory.

About 1,061 JJ-5s were built to end of production in 1986, with the type exported to a number of countries. Some sources have referred to it as a "MiG-17UTI", but formally speaking there never was an aircraft with that designation.

Users - Albania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, North Korea, China.

 

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Unique Livery of PAF T-37.

 

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US once offered 110 A-7 H Corsairs to Pakistan air force,

A-7 were offered by Dr. Kissenger as a "carrot" to Pakistan for its nuclear program. Pakistan never entertained this offer because these aircrafts had no tactical value to PAF. Read all the official and unofficial records or reports of PAF and you will never find them showing any interest in these aircrafts.

PAF was offered 50 F-5E by Carter Administration in 1978 but again PAF never entertained this offer. Prior to this offer US offered more F-104 which again were never entertained by PAF because by than they had withdrawn their depleted fleet of F-104A from service. After the invasion of Afghanistan by the Russian, Carter Admin. offered Pakistan $400 million aid for five-years which included forwarding on impounded Iranian F-4 which was later withdrawn because of trade for hostage with Iran.

Again, after Russian invasion of Afghanistan some congressman made a suggestion that PAF offered those 110 A-7 but the administration never gave a second thought. Prior to agreeing offer F-16 A/B to PAF a combo of F-5G and F-16 J79 were offered to PAF which they rejected. Portugal, Thailand, and Greece received used A-7 in the mid-80's not in 70's.

 

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The Mi-6 Helicopter Crashed During Evaluation Flight for Pakistan Air Force. The PAF crew and the Russian pilot were killed. One airman survived The flight Engineer Syed Irshaad Hussain.

 

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Pilots of No # 18 Squadron with their Officer Commanding, 1990.

 

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