Taiwan's air force yesterday spotlighted its Tainan-based IDF fighter plane squadron, one of the service's best performing units this year.
The IDF squadron showed that it could scramble its planes within five minutes of receiving an order for emergency take-off.
The demonstration was carried out by four locally built IDFs flown by pilots on a 24-hour emergency alert.
PHOTO: FILE
Between July and August last year the squadron flew 57 formation flights and 127 sorties or separate flight missions in the Taiwan Strait, as a result of then President Lee Teng-hui's (
Flight missions by the squadron in those two months account for around one-third of its total flights (173 formations/347sorties) over the past year.
The statistics are seen as further proof of the air force's trust in the IDFs, which are now seen as outperforming in some aspects the service's other second-generation aircraft -- the US-made F-16 and French-built Mirage 2000-5 fighter planes.
The Tainan-based IDF squadron is the third squadron of the 443rd combat wing of the air force in southern Taiwan.
The wing is comprised of three squadrons, which all use the IDFs.
The wing had been commissioned in July, but two of its squadrons had been in operation since early 1999.
The third squadron was selected as one of the best or "model" units of the service this year because of its zero accident rate, the quality of its flight missions, maintenance capabilities and strict discipline.
There were reports, however, the military has been giving out the annual prize for best unit on a rotating basis.
In response, 443rd wing leader Major General Lin Jui-jung (
"There are so many units in the service. Even if all the units agree to play a part in this scheme, it will not be possible to satisfy each of them," Lin said.
Selection of a model unit has been practiced for the past five decades and began with the annual practice of selecting servicemen for their hard work and thrift.
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