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Eastern Order of Battle

Afghan pilot training
at Mazar-i-Shari airport in the late seventies

The Soviet Union delivered about eighty, former Soviet MiG-17 Fresco-A and MiG-15UTI Midget jets to Afghanistan around 1973. From these, the 393rd Training Air Regiment at Mazar-i-Sharif airport received about fifty aircraft.

Afghanistan MiG-17 Fresco-A Mazar-i-Sharif Afghan Air Force MiG-17 Fresco-A Mazar-i-Sharif

The Afghan pilot training's theoretic part took place at Kabul, while the practical part at Mazar-i-Sharif airport. The training was slow and insufficient. There were no technical books or written instructions, the trainers translated from Russian to Dari and Pashto language only from their memory. Everything happened slow and deliberate.

The Soviet Union was not satisfied with the Afghan pilot training system. They sent more advisors, pilot instructors and modern L-39C Albatros trainer aircrafts to Afghanistan. Besides the Afghan trainers, Soviet pilots also gave lessons to the Afghan students at the 393rd Training Air Regiment in Mazar-i-Sharif and Dehdadi airports.
 

Afghanistan L-39C Albatros
Afghanistan L-39C Albatros Mazar-i-Sharif

Soviet advisors and Afghan officer

Afghan Air Force L-39C Albatros Mazar-i-Sharif
Afghan Air Force L-39C Albatros Mazar-i-Sharif

Soviet and Afghan trainers in front of Afghan L-39C Albatros

 

Afghanistan L-39C Albatros Mazar-i-Sharif Afghan Air Force L-39C Albatros Mazar-i-Sharif
Afghanistan Mazar-i-Sharif Afghan Air Force Mazar-i-Sharif
Afghanistan MiG-17 Fresco-A Mazar-i-Shari Afghan Air Force MiG-17 Fresco-A Mazar-i-Sharif
Afghanistan L-39C Albatros Mazar-i-Sharif Afghan Air Force L-39C Albatros Mazar-i-Shari
Afghanistan MiG-17 Fresco-A Mazar-i-Sharif Afghan Air Force MiG-17 Fresco-A Mazar-i-Sharif

Photos: unknown collection