Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 23:

The Polish authority has handed over a Skytruck to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) on Friday, according to military sources. The price government paid to Poland couldnot be confirmed but sources say that the M28 Skytruck can operate on very small airfields and can carry 19 people. The cargo-plane dubbed as Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) can also be converted into a hospital capable of ferrying six people along with two medical attendants. It can also be used for air-dropping troops as well as for maritime reconnaissance and patrol duties.

"Now RNA has two M28 Skytrucks and it signals substantial improvement in our troop-lift capability," said sources at the Air Support Unit of RNA. The UK is also likely to deliver a spy-aricraft named Eyelander, pretty soon. Meanwhile, a number of Mine Protected Vehicles are in the pipeline for RNA that is fighting Maoist insurgency in Nepal. A RNA pilot had been to London to learn how to fly the Eyelander. Sources said that RNA pilots will head for Poland very soon to learn how to fly the M28 Skytruck.