The crash of two F-15 Israel Air Force planes that collided Monday in mid-air, killing the two pilots, occurred during a mock dogfight, senior air force officers disclosed Wednesday.
Air force Brig. General Ron Pecker, an experienced pilot, told Israel Television Tuesday night that such crashes were “inevitable” considering the high speed–more than 1,500 miles per hour– at which the F-15 is flown during aerial fights.
The dangers of crashes during simulated air battles were a calculated risk, pecker said, which had to be taken to ensure top efficiency at crucial moments.
Air force sources stressed that Israel has an excellent safety record, probably higher than in most other air forces.
Since 1980, Israel’s air force has achieved a steady drop in the rate of air accidents. In 1987, the sources said, the accident rate of Israel’s air force was only one-fifth that of 1980.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
