LANGKAWI, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Pilots and ground crew of the ageing MiG-29N and F-111 fighter jets bade farewell as the aircrafts marked their final appearance at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2009) Saturday.
To commemorate the farewell, the pilots and ground crew symbolically gathered in front of the fighter jets in a triangular formation at the tarmac for photo opportunities.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) MiG-29N will soon be replaced by a new aircraft which has yet to be decided by the Malaysian Government, while the F-111, operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), will be replaced by F/A 18 Super Hornets.
Lt Col Norazman Samion, the RMAF commanding officer of No 17/19 squadron which operates the MiG-29N, said the changes were good for them although they had to take leave of the long-serving aircraft.
"It is normal for pilots to say goodbye, everytime they changed aircrafts. If the RMAF wants a change, we are ready for a change," he told Bernama after the symbolic farewell ceremony of the two aircrafts on the last day of LIMA 2009.
Earlier, Norazman presented a token of appreciation to Wing Commander Micka Gray, of the No: 6 Squadron of RAAF which operated the F-111 aircraft.
Meanwhile, Norazman said, most of his pilots might be absorbed into the Sukhoi aircraft team.
In any case, he said, it would not pose a problem as both the MIG and Sukhoi operations were almost similar.
The MIG squadron comprises 10 pilots, four engineers and a 180-man ground crew.
Recently, RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud said the MIG-29N jets would be phased out in the RMAF inventory, by end of next year. It will be replaced by a multi-role combat aircraft.
The Russian-made MIG-29 jets was bought by the RMAF in June 1994, for US$381 million (US$1 = RM3.38).
-- BERNAMA
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