Air Force conducts full dress rehearsal ahead of 87th IAF Day

The Indian Air Force on Sunday conducted a full dress rehearsal, including air drills of both vintage aircraft and modern fleet, at its Hindon base for the 87th IAF Day on October 8. The air display will commence with flag-bearing sky divers of the famous Akash Ganga team dropping out of an AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies, an Air Force official said.

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IAF's Air Display

The flypast would include vintage and modern transport aircraft and frontline fighters, the official added. The ceremony will conclude with a spell-binding aerobatic display. Every year, the Air Force Day is celebrated at Hindon base in presence of IAF chief and senior officials of the three armed forces. The IAF was founded on October 8, 1932, and the force has participated in several crucial wars and landmark missions. 

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IAF approves Martyred squadron leader Ravi Khanna's name on National War Memorial

The Indian Air Force on Saturday gave a nod to include the martyred IAF squadron Leader Ravi Khanna's name on the National War memorial. Ravi Khanna was gunned down in 1990 by terrorist-turned-separatist Yasin Malik. According to top IAF sources, the case for the inclusion of Ravi Khanna's name on the National War Memorial has been cleared. 

"The Air Headquarters cleared the case for the inclusion of late Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna's name in the National War Memorial's list of Air Force personnel who have laid down their lives for the country," said top IAF sources.

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The decision was taken in September by the Indian Air Force authorities who have said that his Ravi Khanna should be honoured with the inclusion of his name on the National War Memorial. The names of personnel killed in action are provided by the respective military arms of the country to the National War Memorial. The approved names are further embedded on the walls along with details of the action they were killed in. 

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(With PTI Inputs)