<p>The Indian Air Force (IAF) lost five men as one of its brand new transport aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules, crashed near Gwalior on Friday. There were no survivors.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft took off from Agra at 10 am on a routine training mission. Minutes later it crashed 72 miles west of the Gwalior airbase. <br /><br />Those killed in the crash are Wing Commanders P Joshi (Captain) and R Nair (Co-Pilot), Squadron Leaders K Mishra (Trainee Pilot) and A Yadav (Navigator) and Warrant Officer K P Singh (System Operator).<br /><br />As an IAF officer becomes a Wing Commander typically after 13 years of flying and a cadet becomes a Squadron Leader after 7 years of flying, it is evident everybody on board were experienced pilots.<br /><br />“It is an accident about which you cannot attribute a reason at the moment (sic),” said Air Chief Marshal (retired) P V Naik, to Deccan Herald.<br /><br /><br />It was during his tenure as IAF chief that these aircraft were inducted.<br />IAF sources said the aircraft literally “fell from the sky” and pilots had little response time. Officers at air headquarters were at loss to explain how it happened. The C-130J Super Hercules has four powerful engines with wingspan of 40 metres and can land even on a small patch of non-metalled track.<br /><br />“This is very very unusual, unbelievable and unfortunate (sic). C-130J is such a stable platform with so many safety systems,” said Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora, a former IAF vice chief.<br /><br />The ill-fated plane was flying with another C-130J, which landed safely at Gwalior. It is not clear at the moment if the “buddy” received any emergency communication from the pilot or co-pilot of the other aircraft.<br /><br />India purchased six C-130J carriers from the USA in a Rs 5,800 crore ($ 962.4 million) government to government deal. The first aircraft was inducted in February 2011. The squadron, also known as Veiled Viper, is based at Hindon base in Ghaziabad.<br /><br />Satisfied with the performance of the first six, India ordered six more C-130Js to be kept at Panagarh air base in West Bengal.<br /></p>
<p>The Indian Air Force (IAF) lost five men as one of its brand new transport aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules, crashed near Gwalior on Friday. There were no survivors.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft took off from Agra at 10 am on a routine training mission. Minutes later it crashed 72 miles west of the Gwalior airbase. <br /><br />Those killed in the crash are Wing Commanders P Joshi (Captain) and R Nair (Co-Pilot), Squadron Leaders K Mishra (Trainee Pilot) and A Yadav (Navigator) and Warrant Officer K P Singh (System Operator).<br /><br />As an IAF officer becomes a Wing Commander typically after 13 years of flying and a cadet becomes a Squadron Leader after 7 years of flying, it is evident everybody on board were experienced pilots.<br /><br />“It is an accident about which you cannot attribute a reason at the moment (sic),” said Air Chief Marshal (retired) P V Naik, to Deccan Herald.<br /><br /><br />It was during his tenure as IAF chief that these aircraft were inducted.<br />IAF sources said the aircraft literally “fell from the sky” and pilots had little response time. Officers at air headquarters were at loss to explain how it happened. The C-130J Super Hercules has four powerful engines with wingspan of 40 metres and can land even on a small patch of non-metalled track.<br /><br />“This is very very unusual, unbelievable and unfortunate (sic). C-130J is such a stable platform with so many safety systems,” said Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora, a former IAF vice chief.<br /><br />The ill-fated plane was flying with another C-130J, which landed safely at Gwalior. It is not clear at the moment if the “buddy” received any emergency communication from the pilot or co-pilot of the other aircraft.<br /><br />India purchased six C-130J carriers from the USA in a Rs 5,800 crore ($ 962.4 million) government to government deal. The first aircraft was inducted in February 2011. The squadron, also known as Veiled Viper, is based at Hindon base in Ghaziabad.<br /><br />Satisfied with the performance of the first six, India ordered six more C-130Js to be kept at Panagarh air base in West Bengal.<br /></p>
