How Are Pilots Assigned Different Squadrons?

[TaimiKhan]

---

---

Why are viper pilots going on JF-17? isn't it like the aircraft that JF-17 is replacing (Like A5, Mirage and J7) should have their pilots being trained on JF-17?

Becoz pilots from A5s & Mirage & J-7 have no experience in operating fly by wire jets and advanced jet like the JF-17, thus the initial pilots are all from the F-16s, which made it easy for them to drive the JF-17 and come to know about it. Once sufficient number of pilots got trained, then the test & evaluation commenced and final touches were put to the plane and now good pilots from Mirages / F-7s are being trained for the JF-17s as viper pilots got banned due to shortage on their side. I even heard that at one stage option was given to ex-viper pilots if they want to return to the viper program, they refused as they liked the thunder more then their older love viper.

So now JF-17 is getting pilots from non viper sqds, first simulator training and then actual training and i did heard that may be the F-16s dual seat are involved to train these rookie pilots to get them a feel of how a fly by wire aircraft acts. May be other members can put light on that.

[Najam Khan]

---

---

Why are viper pilots going on JF-17? isn't it like the aircraft that JF-17 is replacing (Like A5, Mirage and J7) should have their pilots being trained on JF-17?

F-16 and Mirage pilots have more expertise with handling big radars and hi-G maneuvering. For any F-7P/PG pilot its very difficult to absorb all the basic and advance lessons on these topics and the mission computer, only exceptionally good pilots (and pilots with X number of hours in an operational unit) move onto JF-17 from F-7PG (but not 'P').