What the world thinks of PAF
Indian resources have naturally refuted and denied
PAF air superiority over the FIVE times larger IAF in the 65 and
71 wars. Indian and Pakistani claims and counter claims are pointless
on this subject as they tend to be biased and blurred with nationalism.
The only way to assess this is through the neutral and qualified
international opinion, which has now become aviation history.
Check out autobiography of Gen. Chuck Yeagers
(yes, the one who broke the sound barrier), who 'refereed' the
1971 war and flew up and down the region collecting wreckage of
IAF aircraft shot down by the PAF. Here is what he says, "the
Pakistanis scored a three-to-one kill ratio knocking out 102 Indian
jets and losing 34 of their own. I am certain about the figures
because I went out several times a day in a chopper and counted
the wrecks below. I counted wrecks, documented them by serial
numbers, identified the components such as engines and rocket
pods" Now he is not exactly a Pakistani, is he?
Check out the following world reputed aviation journals.
USA - Aviation week & space
technology - December 1968 issue.
"For the PAF, the 1965 war was as climatic as the Israeli
victory over the Arabs in 1967. A further similarity was that
Indian air power had an approximately 5:1 numerical superiority
at the start of the conflict. Unlike the Middle East conflict,
the Pakistani air victory was achieved to a large degree by air-to-air
combat rather than on ground. But it was as absolute as that attained
by Israel.
UK - Air International - November
- 1991
" the average PAF pilot is almost certainly possessed of
superior skills when compared with, say, an average American pilot.
As to those who are rated above average, they compare favourably
to the very best "
Encyclopaedia of Aircraft printed
in several countries by Orbis publications - Volume 5
"Pakistan's air force gained a remarkable victory
over India in this brief 22 day war exploiting its opponents weaknesses
in exemplary style - Deeply shaken by reverse, India began an
extensive modernisation and training program, meanwhile covering
its defeat with effective propaganda smoke screen.
If you feel more at ease with German and French, then
also checkout the followings
Air Action (France) December 1988 and January 1989
Flugzeug (Germany) February (2) 1989
In addition to this, PAF put on show for inspection,
its entire fleets after BOTH of the wars in presence of world
dignitaries and aviation community. The five times bigger IAF
should have annihilated the tiny PAF to prevent such displays!!!!!!
Now these are FACTS - what rides on a wave of nationalism is just
fiction.