Chopper Power

IAF's battle-scarred MI-8s fly off into the sunset after storied career

mi8-iaf Representational image | Indian Air Force's Twitter account

The Indian Air Force's Soviet-era multi-utility medium-lift Mi-8 helicopters were phased out of service in a ceremony at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru on Sunday.

The phasing-out ceremony was attended by veterans headed by former IAF chief air chief marshal Fali Homi Major, who flew the last MI-8 mission along with CO 112 Helicopter Unit.

IAF Training Command head Air Marshal S.R.K. Nair was the chief guest at the event. National Defence Academy Commandant Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler, the seniormost MI-8 pilot, was also present on the occasion.

"The decommissioned choppers will be handed over to the agencies concerned for static display and to motivate the youth to join the armed forces," said Nair as the vintage craft took a bow before flying into the sunset.

MI-8, called Pratap, had been the backbone of the IAF's medium-lift combat capability. Though the twin-turbine copter was mostly used for airlifting warriors, troops and goods to remote and inaccessible areas, including the mountain ranges, its armed variant was an airborne command post.

The MI-8 helicopters arrived in India in 1971 at Bombay and were formally inducted in the IAF helicopter inventory in 1972. Between 1971 and 1988, 107 were inducted and served for 45 years.

The MI-8 formed 10 operational helicopter units and it operated in several major IAF operations including Operation Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The helicopter also operated extensively in humanitarian and disaster relief operations across the length and breadth of the country. It was also used for ferrying VIPs and VVIPs for decades.

"MI-8, through its glorious service career, did not just establish itself as a mainstay of the helicopter operations but also left an indelible mark on the future by providing the Indian Air Force with a lineage of professional helicopter aircrew," an official statement said.

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Topics : #IAF | #security | #defence

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