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PAF Gallery |
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| Northrop F-5A
The Philippine Air Force received 19 F-5As and 3 F-5Bs in 1966 during the early Marcos years. Attrition was heavy and during the early 1990s the number was reduced to only 2 airworthy F-5As which were limited to making very slow turns because of structural fatigue (both remaining aircraft actually had different camouflage patterns). Numbers have since been augmented by a few more bought from South Korea for a token US$100 each. More F5A/Bs are being sourced and these are to be upgraded with modern avionics. The PAF is in the process of selecting a new multi-role fighter, with the F-16 as the top contender.
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| F-5A blessing
This was one of five ex-Korean $100 F-5As put in service in 1998. Note fin logo of 6th Fighter Squadron and nose pennant of Blue Diamonds aerobatic team.
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| F-5B
Two seat version of the F-5
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Erik De Castro/Reuters
| F-5As
News photo of F-5As gearing up for Estrada's all-out war against Abu-Sayyaf kidnappers in Sulu. More like Erap's "macho" propaganda. Note that the fighters do not have any weapons under the wings, leaving them with just their 20mm cannon. The real work then was done by MG-520s and OV-10s with 500-pound bombs.
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| Rockwell International OV-10A Bronco
Designed for counter-insurgency and observation. Maximum speed is 280 mph. Armed with 4-7.62mm (M60C) machine guns in 2 sponsons, each with 500 rounds. Can carry a maximum of 3,600 lbs. of ordnance. Note 500 lb. bombs mounted on the sponsons.
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| SIAI-Marchetti S.211 Basic Trainer
Also ordered by Singapore, Brunei and Haiti, although Haiti has now disposed of theirs. Singapore is in the process of upgrading their S.211s. Philippine aircraft were assembled locally by PADC from kits. Supposedly, the purchase cost was partially offset by a counter-trade deal involving women's underwear.
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| SIAI-Marchetti S.211 Basic Trainer in light attack configuration
I saw an S.211 on display at Villamor. Across from it was a visiting Russian Su-27. The comparison was sad. You could have shoved the S.211 fuselage through one of the Sukhoi's air intakes. |
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| Sikorsky S-76 Eagle
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| Sikorsky S-76 Eagle
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| Sikorsky S-76 Eagle VIP
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| UH-1H Huey
UH-1H Huey demonstrating casualty-evacuation techniques during the 1992 airshow at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.
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| McDonnell Douglas MD520 light helicopter
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| MD520 light helicopter taking off at Villamor Airbase.
Note the 7-round 2.75 in. (70 mm) rocket pods on either side. Lately they are more often seen with two .50 caliber machine gun pods or one machine gun pod and one 7-round rocket pod.
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| MD520 light helicopter in flight
MD-520 with machine gun and rocket pods.
One of the more bizarre stories I read about was of the female MD-520 pilot providing close air support to her husband's Scout Ranger team during an assault on separatist forces in Mindanao.
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| MBB BO105 helicopter
Technically Navy but you can see PAF wings on the tail.
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| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 WP
The PAF's basic trainer. The Philippines was supposed to have received 19 SF-260 TPs to replace earlier models in service.
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| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 light COIN aircraft
Great view of the Philippine Alps in the background. Actually, no. SF.260 light COIN aircraft dressed in Philippine markings probably for a demo in Italy.
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| OV-10s over Taal Lake
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| S.211s in formation
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| GAF Nomad
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| T-34 Mentor
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| T-33 jet trainer
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| S-76 Fly-by
S-76 Eagle armed with 2 .50 caliber machine gun pods escorting the Presidential helicopter during Independence day celebrations flies past the flag at Rizal Park. Cliche photo, yes, but it's my cliche photo. |
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