BERNAMA December 05, 2007
Sukhoi Steals The Show At LIMA 2007
LANGKAWI, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The Sukhoi SU-30MKM stole the show at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2007 exhibition on the first day today of the biennial event.
The fighter aircraft, the latest asset of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), performed several unique formations including the "tail slide" in which the plane almost stood still with its nose pointing upwards, "spinning" and then turning 90 degrees and zooming away.
The plane was flown by Lt Col Nor Azlan Aris and Major Azman Jantan from Skuadron 11 of the RMAF.
Major Azman told reporters in an interview later that the show was perfected after two weeks of training.
This morning, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took delivery of the Russian aircraft in a symbolic ceremony. Also present was Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
In 2003, the government ordered 18 Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia at a cost of RM3.42 billion. Six of them were delivered in June this year and stationed at the RMAF base in Gong Kedak at the Kelantan-Terengganu border.
In return, Russia agreed to buy Malaysian palm oil, transfer aerospace technology and train a Malaysian to become an astronaut.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, after a thorough training session in Russia, became Malaysia's first astronaut and went to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 10 and returned several days later.
Lima 2007 has attracted 450 defence firms from 20 countries to display their equipment at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre and at the Awana Porto Malai.
The exhibition will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm.
-- BERNAMA
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