The day after the crash, the D.A. reported that it would most likely take a fewer days to review the scene. – A black box was found, it was secured – the prosecutor informed on August 29. The box will be thoroughly examined – it is not excluded that it will happen abroad. An autopsy of the deceased pilot's body was besides scheduled for Friday.
Operations are underway. There are 2 teams working at Radom Airport, the D.A.'s office and the Air Accident Investigation Commission, said the head of MON Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The full of Poland lives a tragedy. Experts are constantly considering the causes of the Radom disaster. And on social media, a storm.
"Do specified shows make sense"
There are plenty of comments like, "$70 million cost of this F-16. possibly it's better if they train them alternatively of doing stunt shows?", "War in specified parties does not participate, circus," "Why do active officers on military equipment take part in shows?", "I never understood why there were stunts, tricks, tricks a fewer twelve meters above the ground. This is not the usage of these fighters" etc.
But there are voices in defense. "If there is no war, how else can we usage these planes?", "These shows have value. Bringing the troops closer to society, building an image, strengthening the sense of security..." – in the net it boils.
The sentences are divided. Shows have supporters and opponents. As it turns out, besides among erstwhile military pilots.
– I do air shows myself. I know them from the inside. I flew as a show pilot at shows in Poland and Europe. After the service ended, I took care of organizing air shows. But I like to ride it as a spectator too. And I will always be a show advocate. These are truly spectacular events – said Robert Zawada – pilot, organizer and manager of air shows.
But General Wiesław Kukuła, head of the General Staff of the Polish Army, admitted that he had doubts that this kind of show made sense. Maciej Krakowian convinced him to organize specified events.
In a conversation with the subject, 1 of the erstwhile military pilots responds this way:
– It is useless for nothing but the satisfaction of society's expectations, the satisfaction of public perception, how strong, tight and ready we are, and the well-being of high-level political decision-makers.
"In Poland it was never a separate unit"
Ex-military pilot agrees to a conversation on condition that we don't give his name. He says he understands social expectations and that people want to watch specified shows. But he thinks that there should be a separate military unit to do the shows, which would only do this. He sets an example of Britain and the United States, although he points out that this is not the case in all countries.
– In the US, the Navy and Air Force have their military separate show teams. There is simply a tiny aviation unit, but created and operating to prepare for the best possible participation in the shows and in the air parades. The most experienced pilots are posted to it. It is besides a kind of nobility as designation of abilities, pilot competences for these people, so there are many willing to serve, and those who are qualified are treated as peculiar persons. During this time, they do not execute any another tasks,” says our interviewer.
How is Poland?
– There is simply a Tiger squad in Poznań. There are Eagles in Dęblin. There was a Red Spark squad that no longer exists. But it was never a separate unit. What happens is within the organisational structure of the air force's operational troops. Pilots execute school and show flights in addition to performing their usual duties, thus participating in the F-16 case in combat duty," he says.
Former military pilot: – If the decision-makers consider it necessary, then...
Our interviewer asks the question: – Should specified events take place? That's a question not for pilots, but for politicians. To high-level decision-makers, whether we request military defilade and demonstration before Polish society and elected members of the abroad community, how strong, tight and ready we are. The same applies to air shows.
– If decision-makers consider that this is necessary, then the amount of aircraft capable of operating for combat operations should be reduced and at the same time a number of defilade tasks should be designated. Which means to make an honorary air force campaign. Or decide that we want to have a professional show squad and then we decide whether it is to be combat aircraft, school and combat aircraft or training aircraft – he says.
In his opinion, the fact that so many people are paying attention at this point shows that this is something that political power should consider.
– In my opinion, as a military pilot, from the point of view of competence and flight and ground personnel, the performance of demonstration tasks in the manner in which this is done during air shows does not have the slightest impact on the ability to execute operational tasks. On the contrary. This distracts from doing the regular work to which aircraft and pilots are intended. This forces pilots to get another fresh competences, which are not useful for anything in their regular operational work – he believes.
Apart from human tragedy, the military besides estimates losses: – The failure of individual and operational resources of the aircraft can fit into forks of $ 6-8 million.
Recall: The accident occurred on Thursday 28 August in the evening in Radom. The F-16 fighter crashed and went up in flames. Major Maciej "Slab" Krakowian, who died on the spot, sat behind the airplane's controls.
