IAF's 84th anniversary: Sukhoi's splendid display at Thanjai base

THANJAVUR: As many as six Sukhoi SU 30MKI fighter aircraft, soared into the sky after they took off from Indian Air force station at Thanjavur on Wednesday and vanished into thin air.

After an hour or so, three of them returned and displayed some maneuvers like loop (pulling the plane up into the vertical) before landing. Later, they landed with drogue parachutes, opening behind, to slow the speed of the aircraft in the runway and glided to their parking lot.

That was a demonstration watched by press persons as run-up to 84th anniversary of Indian Air Force to be celebrated on October 8. Pilots who operated the fighter planes said that Sukhoi SU 30 MKI could fly at a vertical speed of 700 km per hour (minimum) to a maximum speed of 2,120 km per hour.

“This is a Russian made advanced aircraft with canard facility (a small fore wing placed forward of the main wing of a fighter aircraft) that will provide stability to the aircraft in slow speed. They also explained about the Russian made Igla surface to air missile, which has a range of five km. Igla is a man portable anti-air craft missile.

The Russian made MI17 V5 helicopter was also stationed at the Air force station.
The multi role helicopter can carry 11 tonnes of cargo and air warriors during wartime. The helicopter, which can fly at a speed of 250 km per hour, can be used as an air ambulance during natural calamities like floods to help people,  
Speaking to presspersons after the demonstration, group captain V.J.Singh, Station Commander, Thanjavur Air Force station said the base was very important in the southern peninsula. It is on the track of modernisation and is fully equipped to meet any contingency or calamity, he said.

Besides having the capability of carrying out operations during wartimes, the station is also doing service at the time of natural calamities to people. “Last year Chennai floods are one example of the IAF coming to the rescue of civilians,” Singh said.

The station will also contribute to the socio-economic development of the region, he said.  On the personnel welfare side, a Kendriya Vidyalaya is already functioning and a building for the same is under construction. The school will move to the new building after its completion.

Construction of quarters and other facilities for Air warriors will be completed in 2018. “The station has become a full fledged one and has combat capability.  
S. Sreekanth, group captain, command works officer, southern air command, Prashanth Chaubey, command PRO and Jayakumar, commanding officer, Thanjavur Air Force station were among those present on the occassion.