i thought it was interesting that ROCAF would assign such an inexperienced pilot to a "new" fighter. perhaps it is part of an effort to build a cadre of pilots in anticipation of newly-built F-16Vs due to be delivered in a few years. but is it also a manifestation of ROCAF's manpower shortage? either way, without a doubt he is considered one of the better pilots amongst his peers, to merit into the first batch of F-16V pilots.
Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Gollevainen
- Start date
Since he was featured in an infamous promotional film for ROCAF the last year, this is probably the case.
I think it'll be smart for ROCAF to focus on improving pilot training instead of acquiring advanced platforms. Their older pilots, especially those who train at Luke Air Force Base, are highly proficient and on par with USAF pilots skill wise. They can either increase the percentage of new pilots who train at Luke or "seed" new pilot corp with the older fellows.
What do you think their gap is at the moment?
I imagine that ROCAF training standard is patterned after USAF training standard.
I don't imagine we have any statistics like mishaps per flight hour.
One issue that the news was complaining about was the interceptions from PRC was happening too often which was impacting ground crews/maintenance as well as flight crews. I believe it was posted that they would no longer scramble for smaller incursions.
Putting the deep politics aside, just look at the above. There is a manpower shortage, this is well-known. The government (both KMT and DPP) doesn't want to conscript further so they dangle higher pay and other incentives, but still no one wants to volunteer. This is making is harder and harder for the people in the armed forces right now, even in peacetime. People say these 70%, 80%, 100% of the population will suddenly turn into fearsome guerilla fighters once the PLA lands, but those are dreams, this is the reality.
Those are pipe dreams and wishful thinking being propagated by the feel good Western folks. Essentially pushing the idea of gaining something without sacrificing for it.
Some people in Taiwan are talking of guerilla/insurgency, which just shows how little they know about wars. There is mindboggling amount of group think on the island fueled by the DPP controlled media. One thing about insurgency people should know: It's always done by people with LITTLE to lose or too MUCH to lose.
Too LITTLE to lose? These are really poor people in underdeveloped regions. They tend to value life much less, a requirement for insurgency because they always die way more than the well trained counter insurgency forces. They also tend to have little economical prospect. You simply don't see middle class urban dwellers risk obliterating their cities to conduct guerilla warfare. Those are American wet dream to sacrifice Taiwanese to hurt the unified China.
Too MUCH to lose? All you need to see are genocidal wars in Europe.
As a mainlander I understand Taiwanese resentment of coercion from the mainland. They are given away by China to a colonial master. When they came back, the KMT treated them horribly (228 and marshal law). Either have left a mark on their psyche. But the CCP/mainland is not looking to rule them. What the mainland is looking for is unity among Chinese, a sensible pursuit given foreign 'divide and conquer' of China since the opium war to TODDAY!!! So instead of wasting their lives in a war, or worse in a guerilla war, their energy is better spent on political autonomy and economical dominance within China, both of which are well deserved given history.
very good analysis on what might have happened with the F16V crash. Also kudos to Yu to point out that these training crashes has absolutely nothing to do with PLA training in the SCS. I have been pretty annoyed by the attempt to blame the accidents in Taiwan on PLA activities. It is as ridiculous as if China blames the US for a training accident. If there are car accident, you should accept there are fighter jet accidents.
Sigh, not sure how they can even consider defending Taiwan if there weapons are designed to fail. I thought the USA has the best weapons?
