"Chakra" markings briefly adorned Indian Air Force aircraft in 1948 and after. The notifications and the history of these markings are described here.
The HAL built Ajeet Trainer is one of the odd-ball aircraft in the IAF's history. Only two examples were inducted and they were introduced at the fag end of the career of a legendary fighter. Wg Cdr A K (Lui) Gupta goes over their short career in the IAF - which lasted less than four years!
Another update to the Units and Appointments Database by Anchit Gupta. Records in the the existing database total 4200+ entries
The much awaited sequel to the delightful "Panther Red One: Memoirs of a Fighter Pilot". The author Air Marshal S Raghavendran is the retired Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force. In this sequel, he chronicles his career where the first book left off. Covering the staff and operational command appointments, the Air Marshal holds no punches in describing the disconnect between the government bureaucracy and the Defence procurement and planning wings.
A history by P.R. Ganapathy
Reviewed by Anandeep Pannu
Rating:
In the 1950s it was not uncommon for IAF aircraft to undertake "force landings" in the country side. Squadron Leader Kesavachandran narrates the story of an 'expedition' to document the evidence for a Court of Inquiry - much before the advent of GPS, handheld cameras, digitial media and the social media.
The episode of blowing up at sea of a Portuguese Patrol Boat laden with explosives off Diu by IAF on 18 Dec 1961. First person account of the sinking of NRP Vega during the Diu Operations in 1961. Air Marshal P M Ramachandran, PVSM AVSM SC VM narrates his story of that eventful sortie from 18th December 1961.
Lawrence Frederic Pereira 8678 F(P) was a Forward Air Controller with an Armoured Brigade in the Shakargarh Sector during the 1971 War. He lost his life in an enemy air attack and today lies at rest in Jalandhar.
