Australia’s defence force has launched an investigation into allegations that a number of its former air force pilots were offered lucrative packages to teach Chinese pilots how to fly western attack aircraft. Australian pilots were among those approached by a South African flight school to train Chinese pilots to operate warplanes that included Typhoons, Tornados and Harriers.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said this week that 30 former Royal Air Force pilots had been offered salaries of up to ￡237,000 a year to train People’s Liberation Army pilots. One official said serving personnel had also been approached.
The New Zealand Defence Force told the Financial Times that four former pilots were employed by the Test Flying Academy of South Africa but that no serving personnel were involved.