Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: Reports on’ [‎103r] (205/431)

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rffiPOrCT ON Tnnj ■dFanAN Alxi FOKGiii FOjH tCxli^ £-jriIQD
Pst> AUGUST t>o 15i>h NO< lp4:3»
General,
6 ^
(a) Between tile 1st, of August and tne Independence Day Review on August
23rd there was tne usual activity designed to improve the standard of
formation flying, 21 Hind aircraft and 7 Romeo aircraft took part in
review of the Kabul garrison by King Zahir Shah, the standard of
formation flying showing a slight improvement over previous years.
After the Independence Celebrations no flying training was carried out for
two weeks, and during the remainder of the period under report training has
been carried out somewhat spasmodically owing to changes in the British
instructional staff, accidents, and the attitude of the Air Commandant
concerning the expenditure of aviation petrol.
(b) The number of serviceable aircraft available has been further
reduced by accidents, and the Air Commandant has shown some concern re-
gar ling the situation. On 15th November the position was as follows
British Hind
aircraft.
Italian Romeo
aircraft.
Italian Breda
Trainer Aircraft.
r
w
la
Serviceable 2
(long flights)
Serviceable 4
(Snort flights)
Repairable 8
written'off 2
. • ' 16
'(c) Tne Air Commandant and officers of tne Afgnan Air Force have made
frequent enquiries during tne summer, regarding the possibility of’their
being supplied with 9 additional secondhand Hind aircraft from Great
Britain or India. Tne request for tne supply of these aircraft was made
in March, and early in October the Afghan Government was informed that
Hind aircraft were now regarded as obsolete, and none were available for
sale. Later, in November, an offer to supply Audax aircraft from India
at breakup value was made, or alternatively to supply n Master M aircraft
from Great Britain at a reasonable price, for delivery, within 9 to 12
montns. The reactions of the Afghan Government, or the Air Commandant,
to this offer are not yet known, but it is probable that in view of
their desire to conserve their existing Hind aircraft for internal
security operational purposes, and to obtain some trainer aircraft for
training student pilots in Kabul, they may be prepared to accept Audax
or Hart aircraft for use as trainer aircraft,' and as a stop-gap to tide
them over a period.
There is little doubt that the Air Commandant and officers of the Afghan
Air Force will be disappointed if the Afghan Govt, decide to purchase
Audax or Hart aircraft, as these types are.older that the Hind aircraft
already in thcii possession. The Air Commandnnt does however realise
the difficulties of obtaining the "General Purpose" type of aircraft he
requires, and is perhaps prepared to accept wnat is offered and to hope
that more modern aircraft of some kind or anotn jt will become available
at tne end of the war,
(d) In August tne Afghan Government made enquiries as to whether a
"Tiger Moth" trainer aircraft could be made available for sale from
India, and if so at wnat price. Tnis aircraft was required for train
ing pilots in Kabul, The enquiry was referred to tne Government of
India, but it is not yet known whether tnis aircraft can be made
available for sale,
(e) There have been one major and three minor accidents to aircraft
during the period und^r review. Tne major accident resulted in a Hind
aircraft being damaged beyond repair and the pilot and observer being
killed. The three minor accidents involved damage to one Hind, one
Romeo and one Breda aircraft, but all are repairable.
(f) The Hind spares position has again improved owing to the arrival
or expected arrival of spares from India. The Afghan Govt, have madd
a request for the supply of spares for Italian Romeo aircraft from
stocks, which they presume have been captured in North Africa and Italy
by the British army, and it is understood that some of these spares may
become available in the near future.
Serviceable 19
Repairable 6
written off 3
28
Serviceable 2
Repairable 4
Britten off 2
8