Indian Air Force Day 2021: History, Significance, Interesting Facts

Indian Air Force Day 2021: The Indian Defence Forces are divided into three branches: the Air Force, Army, and Navy. 

The Indian Air Force Day is observed every year on October 8 to celebrate the accomplishments of the flying armed services. 

On Friday, India will celebrate the 88th anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Indian Air Force Day 2021: History and Significance

The IAF was established on this date in 1932. Since then, the IAF has participated in a number of significant conflicts and operations. 

Although it was founded as part of the British Empire’s auxiliary air force, it became a part of India after the country’s independence in 1947. 

During World War II, the Indian Air Force aided the British Army. 

It was known as the Royal Indian Air Force after 1947, but the name was altered in 1950 to remove the word “royal.”

The President of India has the position of Supreme Commander of the Air Force, as stipulated in the Indian Constitution. 

The Chief of Air Staff, a four-star officer who is an air chief marshal, is the following rank. 

The Air Chief Marshal is in charge of the Air Force’s main operational decisions. In the Indian Air Force, there is only one operational ACM at any one time.

The festivities will take place at the Hindon Base in Ghaziabad on October 8, 2021. The event is expected to begin at 8 a.m. and end around 11 a.m.

Here are some interesting facts about Indian Air Force Day 2021.

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is ranked the fourth largest operational air force in the world. Only the US, China and Russia are ahead of India.
• The motto of the Indian Air Force is ‘Nabham Sparsham Deeptham’, which literally means ‘Touch the Sky with Glory’. Interestingly, IAF has taken its motto from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
• The Indian Air Force employs over 1,400 aircraft and about 170,000 personnel.
• Hindon Air Force station, situated in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, is the largest airbase in entire Asia. It is also the 8^th largest in the world.
• IAF has always taken part in relief operations during natural calamities in the country, including the Gujarat cyclone (1998), the tsunami (2004) and floods in North India. However, IAF made a world record while rescuing civilians stranded during the Uttarakhand flash floods. The mission was named ‘Raahat’ during which the IAF rescued about 20,000 people.
• IAF has also been an important part of various operations such as Operation Poomalai, Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot and more.
• IAF even works with the United Nations in peacekeeping missions.
• IAF has included a significant number of women fighter pilots, women navigators and women officers who provide their services to the Indian Air Force. Even the Rafale fleet of the IAF has a woman fighter pilot.

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