Coll 5/73 ‘Afghan Air Force: Reports on’ [‎110v] (220/431)

APPENDIX "A"
TO THE AFGHAN AIR FORCE' TRAINING REPORT FOR THE PERIOD
1st MAY to 31st JULY. 1943. '
The following was the situation regarding the
aircraft in the.Afghan Air Force on the 31st July,
serviceability of
1943;-
(a) Hind Aircraft .Serviceable aircraft • 21 /
. Unserviceable but repairable 5 v
Written off as unserviceable 2
28 Total
(b) Ronieo Aircraft Serviceable aircraft
* Unserviceable but repairable 8
Written off as unserviceable 5
16 To Lai
Two aircraft require new propellers, while the others require
welding repairs or are deficient of rubber washers for petrol pumps.
Six of ehe unserviceable but repairable aircraft are capable of snort
local flights in the vicinity of Kabul providing rubber washers for
petrol pumps are available.
(c) Breda Aircraft Serviceable aircraft _ 3
Unserviceable but repairable 4
Written off as unserviceable 1,.
8_ Total
Note ;
Breda aircraft require 73 or 77 Octane petrol but as tnis
is not available they are at present being flown on 87 Octane
petrol against the advice of the British instructors.
(d) Stearman Trainer Aircraft U.S.A. Serviceable aircraft 1.
2. The number of Afghan pilots proficient on the various types of
aircraft on the 31st July, 1943, was as follows
(a) Hawker Hind Good pilots 7
Fairly good pilots 14
Promising pilots nil
Backward pilots 9
pilots under training 8
38 Total.
(b) Italian Romeo Fairly good pilots 2
Promising pilots 5
Backward pilots 1.
8 Total
(c) Italian Breda (Trainer)
Used for preliminary flying only, but have been lenton two
occasions to No.2 Romeo Squadron for the purpose of practicing a.ero-
batics etc.
Notes The numbers given above do not represent the total number of
pilots in the Afghan Air Force as several pilots are still employed
on administrative duties. As these pilots have not been flying for
over three years, they cannot be regarded as proficient or m ilying
practice.