Every Indian should know these facts about the Indian Air Force

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Indian Air Force Day Interesting facts – Do you know, ‘Indian Air force ranks fourth amongst the air forces of the world’? The air arm of the Indian Armed Forces is called the Indian Air Force (IAF). The main aim of IAF is to keep the Indian airspace secured and to do aerial war in case of any conflict.

Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932 as a reserve air force of the British Empire. After the independence of India in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept. However, when India turned Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed. Every year, October 8 is celebrated as Indian air force day.

Here are some facts about Indian Air Force

• IAF is the fourth largest air force in the world after the US, Russia and China with around 1, 70,000 personnel and 1,500 aircraft.
• The Indian air force is the seventh strongest air force in the world.
• The IAF flag was adopted in 1951. It is blue in color and has the National Flag in the first quadrant and a roundel of the Tricolor.
• From 1945 to 1950, the IAF was called the Royal Indian Air Force. Word ‘Royal’ was removed after India went Republic in 1950.
• The second supersonic Light Combat Aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is Tejas.
• Mirage 2000 is a French single-seated air defense and multi-purpose fighter jet that is powered by a single-engine with a maximum speed of 2,495 kmph.

Indian Air Force Day Interesting facts

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• The IAF contributed to peacekeeping duties in Somalia as part of the Indian contingent supporting UN operations from 1 October 1993 to 21 December 1994.
• The IAF destroyed more than 40 APCs, 29 Pakistani tanks, and a railway train during the Battle of Longewala in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
• Till now since 1933, IAF Roundel (logo) has been changed four times since 1933.
• By saving around 20000 civilians in ‘Raahat’ mission during floods in Uttarakhand, the IAF created a world record.
• Flying officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the only member of IAF to have been awarded Param Vir Chakra till now. He was honored for his exemplary display of courage during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
• ‘Nabha Sparsham Deeptham’ the moto of IAF has been taken from the Bhagavad Gita’s 11th Chapter.
• The highest Air Force Station is Siachen Glacier AFS situated at a height of 22,000 ft.

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Indian Air Force Day Interesting facts

• The IAF has created a world record by performing the highest landing of a C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip in Ladakh at a height of 16614 feet (5065 meters).
• The Air Force has about 60 airbases spread all over India.
• The SEPECAT Jaguar and the Mikoyan MiG-27 works for the IAF’s primary ground attack force.
• The first HAL-made fighter of IAF’s was HF-24 Marut.
• Hindon Air Force Station of IAF is the largest airbase in Asia, the 8th largest in the world.
• The Garud Commando Force of IAF has the longest training course than any other Indian special forces’ training period.

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Indian Air Force Day Interesting facts

• The first woman Air Marshal of the Indian Air Force is Padmavathy Bandopadhyay.
• IAF has a base in Farkhor, Tajikistan.
• The IAF has a world record of the highest landing of a C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip in Ladakh at the height of 16614 feet (5065 meters).
• The only officer to have been given the rank of “Marshal of the Air Force” is Arjan Singh who was conferred the award by the President of India.
• Sachin Tendulkar is the first civilian who was awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by IAF without any aviation background.

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