Pakistani Concordes

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33425, 5 January 1974, Page 15

Pakistani Concordes

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) PARIS.

The French newspaper “L’Aurore*’ reports that Pakistan has ordered three supersonic Concorde airliners in gratitude for a French proposal to train Libyan and other Arab pilots of French Mirage military aircraft in Pakistan. The Right-wing paper, which gives no source for its report, says that a French military mission is now in Pakistan to discuss the project. Official comment on the report was not immediately available.

The newspaper said the French Government decided to ask Pakistan to train Libyan, Iraqi and Saudi Arabian pilots of the Mirage jets it sells to those Arab countries because French Air Force officers were objecting to doing the training.

Personnel from other European countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, brought under contract to France to train the Arab pilots had in some cases been ordered back by their governments after the Arabs began their oil cutbacks, “L’Aurore” said. The French then chose Pakistan, the newspaper said, because that country had bought Mirage aircraft, and because Pakistani pilots proved to be the best of all the overseas airmen trained in France. “L’Aurore? said Pakistan would become “an enormous platform for Mirages, a sort of strategic staging point.” It added “absolutely delighted by this privileged situation, Pakistan has just ordered three Concordes.”