By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian Air Force (IAF) could re-deploy fighter aircraft at a sprawling airbase on the capital’s outskirts once the bird menace caused by an abattoir that lies on its flight path is done away with.
“A modern abattoir is being constructed (where a makeshift facility now exists). The present abattoir is open to the air and attracts a large number of birds. This creates a flying hazard. Once this is removed, we’ll shift our fighters back,” Air Marshal P.S. Ahluwalia, who heads the IAF’s premier Western Air Command, told reporters Wednesday.
He was speaking ahead of the annual Air Force Day celebrations Oct 8. The celebrations will mark the 75th anniversary of the IAF.
The abattoir is in Ghazipur in east Delhi, some five km from the border with Uttar Pradesh. The Hindon airbase is located some 10 km on the other side of the border.
Till about a decade ago, fighter squadrons were based at Hindon to guard the airspace over the national capital in case of an attack. Due to the bird menace, these were shifted to the Ambala airbase some 175 km from here.
Ahluwalia, however, hastened to add that the shift did not mean there had been a lowering in the response time to a possible threat.
“We are geared for any eventuality, if at all it happens. It’s just that we’ll be a lot more comfortable if there are fighters at Hindon,” he said.
The base itself is fully operational due to a series of measures the IAF has taken to prevent bird hits but these are not adequate if fighter aircraft are to operate from the facility. Thus, operations at Hindon are restricted to transport aircraft and helicopters.
Last year, the IAF had shifted the Air Force Day parade from the capital’s Palam airport to Hindon. This was to do away with restrictions on the movement of civilian aircraft during the parade and during the rehearsals leading up to the event.
The highlight of the Air Force Day parade will be a flying display featuring 75 aircraft to commemorate the platinum jubilee.
The flying display will commence with performances by a microlite aircraft, a para-motor and aero-models, followed by a paradrop by 75 members of the Akash Ganga Team.
During the parade, three Mi-17 helicopters carrying the IAF ensign will fly past at low level. At the end of the parade and the investiture ceremony, the Air Warrior Drill Team will put on a display of weapons’ drills.
The main part of the air display will commence thereafter. In the lead will be the microlite aircraft that recently created a world record for flying around the world in 80 days.
This will be followed by a ‘Big Rotor’ formation of one Mi-26 helicopter, two advanced light helicopters and two Cheetah helicopters, a ‘Chakra’ formation comprising three Mi-35 helicopters, and a ‘Spectrum’ formation comprising one Avro, two AN-32 and two Dornier aircraft.
A ‘Mixedbag and Vulcan’ formation comprising one IL-78 refuelling tanker with two Mirage aircraft will follow, with the Mirages pulling up steeply in front of the spectators.
Four aircraft formations of Jaguars, MiG-21s and MiG-23s will then approach head-on, followed closely by three aircraft formations of MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s, all of which will perform split manoeuvres in front of the dais.
Thereafter, three Sukhoi SU-30 MKI aircraft will fly in Vic formation and perform the magnificent Trishul manoeuvre. After this, two SU-30 MKI aircraft will cross each other at low level at high speed. On aircraft will exit thereafter while the other will demonstrate the jet’s amazing manoeuvrability of in an aerobatic display.
The grand finale will be a scintillating display of formation aerobatics by the renowned Surya Kiran team of nine aircraft.