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The devastating punch from the NR-30�s was very evident during close support missions in the Chamb-Jaurian sector, where the Indians lost 18 medium guns and an ammunition dump was also destroyed. In the Shakargarh sector the F-6�s provided valuable support to the Pakistan Army, and destroyed dozens of Indian Tanks and scores of other soft skinned vehicles. Close support and interdiction missions continued to be flown by F-6�s throughout the duration of the 71 conflict. As hostilities ceased, all PAF F-6 squadrons received battle honours, and three of its pilots received the coveted �Sitara-e-Jurat�, roughly equivalent of the British, Distinguished Flying Cross. The war however was not one sided, as the PAF lost two F-6�s to Indian Flak.
After the war in 1972, the Chinese also donated an F-6 rebuild factory to Pakistan. The formal commissioning of this factory in the northern Pakistani city of Kamra took place on November 8th 1980. Kamra also developed a 301-gallon (1140) litre belly tank for the F-6. This tank was so successful that the Chinese also adopted it. It freed up the outboard wing pylons to carry other ordnance. Spare parts were manufactured as well as castings and forgings. Only 40 percent of needed spare parts were imported from China, while the rest were manufactured locally. Another 125 F-6�s were supplied by China at very favourable prices. Deliveries of these new batches commenced in late 1978. Pakistani F-6�s served with Nos 15, 17, 23 and 25 squadrons. PAF F-6�s have a number of differences between them and the originally supplied J-6�s! A principal one was the deletion of the antenna mast behind and below the starboard cockpit, and replaced/ relocated by a blade antenna on the port nose. In addition to the sidewinder pylons and the martin Baker seats, these modifications were unique to the Pakistani F-6�s. The F-6 has now been finally retired from front line service by the F-7PG, although the trainer variant, the JJ-6/ FT-6 continues to soldier on with the still operational Nanchang A-5 squadrons. Even though it was a very high maintenance aircraft it gave the Pakistan Air Force a good foundation towards limited self-sufficiency and self-reliance. It served the Pakistan Air Force very well, and fulfilled missions at a fraction of the cost of comparable western types. It�s induction and very long service career with the PAF was a testament to that fact, and was a milestone event for the PAF. To date F-6 aircraft had flown more than 400,000 hours. The F-6 rebuild factory has expanded its operations to help sustain the A-5 and F-7 regiments within the PAF, and is still in commission.
The Kp kit.
For many years the only Mig-19 kit available to the modeler in the 72nd scale was the Ancient Kp (Kovozavody porstejov) kit from the early 80�s. The kit has its origins in the Czech Republic of the Communist era. |
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Suffice to say in this �Golden Age� of modeling the kit has its deficiencies and shortcomings, but in overall shape and accuracy it is still a fairly decent kit, and is very readily available, (having been recently reissued and re-boxed) on most online sites as well as the corner hobby shops. For many years it was also the only kit, which included PAF decals, which allowed you to model a camouflaged PAF bird belonging to the No 25 squadron PAF. Although it has been largely superceded by the Bilek mig-19 kits, it is still an acceptable one as far as building a fairly accurate Mig-19S Farmer C. If raised panel lines are not a particular irritant coupled with its less than $5 price, then one can almost immediately get down to business with cleaning up the parts of the persistent flash. Upon opening the very poor box, one can�t help but notice the Spartan nature of the kit! There are the usual two fuselage halves, and the wings, and stabilators come already built up. The cockpit details are very poor, and comprise a �lounge chair� for a KK-2. There is virtually no detail given to spice up either the cockpit or the burner cans. The nozzles also have no depth. Now in the new millennium we can heave a sigh of relief, as there is a sudden firestorm of interest in the Mig-19! Puzzling as it may sound, at least a half a dozen completely separate companies have either released new kits on the Mig-19 or released some after market decals or Resin detail sets, within the last few years, and in various scales. Finally now we even have the luxury of buying Photo- Etch detail frets for the Mig-19. |
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