An IAF aircraft flying at Hindon base during the full dress rehearsal | Photo: Sanjay K Sharma

IAF, Air force day

Air Force Day

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Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa

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	Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on October 8 every year. Every year, the Air Force Day is celebrated at Hindon base in presence of IAF chief and senior officials of the three armed forces. These celebrations include an air display where the most crucial and vintage aircraft put up a magnificent show.</div>
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		<strong>Indian Air Force</strong></div>
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		The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian armed forces with the primary mission to secure Indian airspace and conduct aerial activities during armed conflicts. More than 170,000 personnel are in service with the Indian Air Force. Its personnel and aircraft assets rank fourth amongst the air forces of the world.&nbsp;</div>
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		Also known as &lsquo;Bharatiya Vayu Sena&rsquo;, the IAF was officially established on October 8, 1932, by the British Empire. The President of India holds the rank of Supreme Commander of the air force. The Chief of Air Staff, an air chief marshal is responsible for the operational command of the air force.</div>
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		The Indian Air Force not only safeguards Indian territory and national interests from all threats, but also provides support during natural calamities. The IAF provides air support to the Indian Army on the battlefield as well as strategic and tactical airlift capabilities.</div>
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		The Indian Air Force comprises highly-trained crews and pilots and has access to modern military resources which provide India with the capacity to carry out rapid response evacuation, search-and-rescue (SAR) operations, and delivery of relief supplies to affected areas through cargo aircraft.</div>
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		The air force is divided into five operational and two functional commands. Each command is supervised by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal. The purpose of an operational command is to conduct military operations using aircraft within its area of responsibility, and functional command&rsquo;s responsibility is to maintain combat readiness.</div>
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		<strong>Facts about IAF</strong></div>
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			IAF ranks as the fourth largest operational air force in the world</li>
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			Motto of the Indian Air Force is &lsquo;Touch the Sky with Glory&rsquo; and it was taken from eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita</li>
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			The air force employs about 170,000 personnel and over 1,400 aircraft</li>
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			After independence, the air force took part in four wars with Pakistan and one with People&rsquo;s Republic of China</li>
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			IAF works with the United Nations&rsquo; peacekeeping missions.</li>
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			IAF took part in relief operations during natural calamities such as Gujarat cyclone in 1998, the tsunami in 2004, and floods in North India. The IAF has also been part of relief missions such as Operation Rainbow in Sri Lanka</li>
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