Page 120 - Demo

120dedicated air campaign, the dissident Omani rebels began losing heart and the general populace was won over by the %u2018hearts and minds%u2019 campaign conducted by the new Sultan. Events began to turn in favour of the Sultan%u2019s forces and civil control was eventually restored. There was, however, still a very real threat presented by the PDRY with strong Soviet backed, equipped and trained forces. The SOAF needed more punch and in 1975 it was a gift of Hunters from Jordan which signalled a change in fortunes. Again, RAF Loan Service pilots were very much in evidence providing much needed fast jet DFGA experience. %u0001%u0017')*(B%u0015/,%u0006%u0016*%u0017%u0006%u000c%u0004%u0008%u0006fl%u0006E%u0014(/%u0015)(%u0016%u0015%u0013/$%u0006 With the war now receding fast the Commander of the SOAF (initially Group Captain [later Air Marshal] Les Phipps and subsequently Group Captain [later Air Marshal] Erik Bennett) was charged with modernising, training and re8organising the air force with the aim of putting Omanis in the driving seat %u2013 %u2018Omanisation%u2019. The traditional task of Loan Service began to change from manning the front line to more of a training, mentoring and standardisation role. Airwork engineers continued to service the aircraft but RAF Loan Service ground crews and engineering officers were brought in to advise on, and set up, training schemes covering basic and advanced trade training. On the flying side, with the Hunter taking the lion%u2019s share of the tactical flying and operating from the newly commissioned base at Thumrait, the Strikemasters were relocated to Masirah (now in Omani Mainstay of the SOAF during the Dhofar campaign, the Strikemaster.