Is it better than dozens of pilots getting processed into human jell in ancient MiG-21 ? I guess not.
Prof. Prodyut Das
If you read Another article by same prodyut das in his own blog where he is listing out the findings for Mig-21 crashes,
He lists the following as the prime reason for Mig-21 crashes,
1. Because indian hot climate saps twelve percent lift and 10 percent engine thrust , Mig-21 is very dangerous to operate for inexperienced pilots particularly in landing and take off where approach speeds are higher,
2.The alpha sensitivity of Mig-21 due to low aspect ratio of 2.2(note with an even lower aspect ratio of 1.9 ,tejas had 2700 incident free landings and take offs, showing ADA's care for test pilots,),
3.The weight increase in mig-21 which made approach speeds higher and higher for landing condition,
4.The CK ejection seat not good enough in low level emergencies-"semi -encapsulation feature of CK seat delayed ejection in that it took too long to get rid of the canopy "
And he goes on to say that the attrition rate of Mig-21s in IAF is quite comparable to other airforces,
stating that,
1.The German Luftwaffe flew about 950 F 104s from about 1960 to 1987 and lost about 292 of them during the same period.
2.The Canadians lost half of their fleet of 200 CF 104s during a similar period of service. Training was admittedly a problem with the German Luftwaffe which was barely ten years old at the time of the induction of the F104 but the same could hardly be true about the Canadians.
3.The British RAF lost over a hundred of their 297 Lightnings in about 25 years of service- a number of them to engine fires which was probably due to a flaw in the detail design. Our MiG losses have been at a much lower rate.
And finally he says this,
The importance of having the best ejection seat possible cannot be overstated.
It is noteworthy that the Pakistan Air Force retrofitted their MiG 19s with the Martin Baker MK 10.
Such a seat in the MiG 21would have saved many of the 70 pilots killed. Wg.Cdr Gautam, MVC and Bar who died "dead sticking" a MiG 21 FL during take off at Lohegaon is one name, of the many, who come to mind..
And the lack of AJTs is another issue which could have reduced the rate further.So read up before fixing ADA as the only responsible for those pilots who lost their life on Mig-21s.
Only flight worthy Mig-21s are allowed to fly in IAF.
And contrary to your claims he says after 2002 Mig-21 crashes decreased," The sudden decline in the crash rate of the MiG 21 after 2002 cannot be explained with the current level of published information.".
This international acceptable attrition rate work out to about 7 aircraft per anum in the 80s and thereafter.
The fact that in the tropics the aircraft is flying in a non ISA atmosphere means that the engine thrust and the lift available is lower than available to a European pilot.
In addition the flying environment- the ratio of open to densely populated areas, the number and size of birds at low level can alter the accident rate in spite of identical standards of training and maintenance.
Is the general accident level too high?
According to the MOD the IAF lost a total of 315 MiG 21 were lost from all causes in 40 years. Taking out the combat losses this is less than 30% of the MiG fleet in 40 years.
Compared to the Canadian losses of 50% and the German Losses of 292 out of 915 F104s in a much shorter period of operation and the fact the percentage of Lightning losses for the RAF were just as high would indicate that losses were not unusual.
crash rate yearwise,
92-93 11
93-94 10
94-95 11
95-96 9
96-97 10
97-98 7
98-99 10
99-00 13
00-01 12
01-02 8
02-03 11
03-04 5
04-05 2
SO dont lay everything on ADA's door. Even the mother in law of tejas mr. Das does not say so.
In fact the truth is exact opposite of what you want forum members here to believe!!!!
Because ADA got funding for two Tejas TDs only in 1993 . And the first TD flew in 2001. According to Mr. Das after 2001-2002 , the accident rates of mig-21s drastically decreased.
SO your entire accusation is not supported by facts!!!!
From now on please dont make statements without knowing the facts ,Just to beat tejas down.
P.S-This article of Mig-21 crashes has extensive reference materials indicating source of his statements.
But unfortunately in his article on The Ails of tejas , No such reference was there.
Has mr. das forgotten to give us reference for his claims, like
1. Weight of tejas is wrong,
2. Aspect ratio of tejas is wrong,
3. Agility of tejas is useless,
4.Aerodynamics of tejas is wrong,
5.Length of tejas is wrong,
6.Air intake of tejas is wrong.
7. In fact everything on tejas is wrong.
If only Mr. Das gave reference to all his claims ADA could have used to that to correct these mistakes in tejas mk-2.
Or may be He should be appointed the next project director of tejas perhaps!!!!
