SHAH ALAM: IN my previous posting – Selamat Jalan, Fulcrum A Photo Tribute – I stated that the future of RMAF Fulcrums remained uncertain as there was no official word on its future. Recently, the decision to award the squadron colours to the sole Fulcrum unit – No 17 Skuadron – however do indicate a lifeline.
Unfortunately, even as the colours presentation ceremony was postponed indefinitely – RMAF Colonel in Chief the Sultan of Pahang was unwell – the fate of the Fulcrums is now somewhat more clearer. According to RMAF chief Jen Roslan Saad, the Fulcrums was under a draw-down.
He declined to be more specific as in previous occasions but it is likely that Fulcrums will not see past its 21st year in service with RMAF. RMAF reluctance to state the exact date of the retirement has been covered here.
Asked why the squadron was awarded the colours even though the aircraft was to be retired in the near future, Roslan said “The squadron deserve the colours, they had done their duties.
Roslan was met after a Press conference at the Subang airbase where the colours ceremony was to be held. Apart from the No 17, three other flight squadrons, No 16, No 18 and No 20 together with the RMAF Regiment (Paskau) were supposed to be awarded their colours at the ceremony today.
No 16 Sqdn flies the Beechcraft B200T MPA, the 18th the Hornets and the 20th, the Hercules.
Meawnhile, Roslan told the press conference that the FDR and CVR of the CN235-220M MM44-07 which ditched near Kuala Selangor on Friday, have been recovered. Both devices – better known as black boxes although they are usually finished in bright orange – are in a good condition and the RMAF expected to get a valuable insight into what led into the mishap.
Roslan said the black boxes will be sent to the Indonesian Aerospace later today for further inspection and recovery of the data. The inquiry into the mishap had already started with interviews with some of the eight crew members . The aircraft was part of the fly-past rehearsal for the Colours ceremony.
Checks on two of the CN-235s from the 1st Squadron showed no anomaly which could explain the Friday’s mishap, according to Roslan. With the mishap, RMAF is left with 7 CN-235 in its book.
— Malaysian Defence
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You know? I see both Boeing and Eurofighter(Bae System) are desperately because they Q1 or whatever is getting worst as oil goes nut. Dassault and Saab aren’t face any problem because thanks for their last year customer(France-Egypt and Sweden-Brazil). So….. since Malaysia face oil slump, which they gonna choose?