LIKE a toothless tiger, idle combat aircraft such as the F-16A/B Fighting Falcons, F-5E/F Tiger IIs, OV-10F Broncos and A-4E Skyhawks are perhaps still fierce-looking and frightening. But what is the use if they can not fly, as has been the case since the US and Britain imposed an embargo on spare parts for Indonesia's combat aircraft four years ago.

The Iswahyudi Air Base in Madiun was the most affected by the embargo as it is the base for fig