Hindon Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Hindon Air Force Station (Hindon AFS) (also Hindan) is an Indian Air Force
base
under the Western Air Command (WAC). It is located near Ghaziabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in the National Capital Region
on the outskirts of Delhi
, close to the Hindon River
. Starting 2006, the annual Air Force Day Parade venue was shifted from Palam Airport to Hindon.
There is one runway, aligned east-west (09-27), of 9000 feet (2,743.2 m) length x 150 feet (45.7 m) width.
From early 2011, several of India's first C-130J cargo planes will be based at Hindon. They will be equipped with AAQ-22 Star Safire III electro-optical/infrared sensors. This newly formed squadron C-130s has been named No. 77 Squadron IAF. It was inaugrated by Defence Minister A.K. Antony. Group Captain Tejbir Singh will be the Commanding Officer of No.77 Squadron.
A hospital is also operational at the base.
s, and stayed here till 1969, when it moved to Bagdogra
, subsequently during the East Pakistan Operations 1971 it flew in on December 6, 1971. Prior to the No. 3 Squadron
moved here in July 1971 and was operating Mystère IVA
s at the time. After the war it moved back to Hindon, until it shifted base to Pathankot
in 1975.
In mid-1980s it was identified by ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali
among the 10 air bases in India prone to bird hits, due to the presence of slaughterhouses and dumping grounds in its vicinity being close to the Ghaziabad industrial city. In the coming years, the number of accidents increased. Finally in 1997, when three plane crashes occurred within a span of few days, Hindon was abandoned as a fighter base and remained home to Avro
s and Mi-17
helicopters and transport aircraft in the following years, apart from being used by the IAF Aircrew Examination Board. However in 2003, with growing terrorist threats, its importance as a strategic air base to provide air cover to the capital was realised, as Hindon-based fighters could reach the skies over New Delhi within five minutes as compared to the 15-plus minutues it would take from other closest bases, namely Sirsa, Ambala Air Force Base
and Chandigarh Air Force Station, and thus Hindon was reactivated and area around it was cleaned up. September 2005, saw Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi becoming the first Chief of Air Staff to earn para wings while in office, as he finished his fifth and final para jump at Air Force Station Hindon.
In 2006, Indian Air Force shifted its 74th Anniversary celebration venue from Palam Airport in Delhi, to Hindon to avoid airspace closure for commercial traffic, where the Air Force Day Parade cum investiture ceremony was held on October 8, and an air display by 66 aircraft. This also gave the IAF aircraft more air space during the air show, till then was uses primarily as a helicopter base. After that it has become an annual event at the station.On June 1, 2007, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major flagged off a microlight expedition, part of the IAF’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, aiming to creating a record by completing the expedition, Around the World in 80 Days. Wing Commanders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar reached Hindon back on August 19, and covering 40,497 km in 80 days they achieved a speed of 21.092 km/h thus beating the previous record of 16.53 km/h set by Colin Bodil of the U.K. in 2001. Also in the same year, when the Airports Authority of India
(AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a pilot project to test joint management of the airspace, Hindon was opened to civilian flights, though its open for flights only during stipulated hours of the day. After the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks
IAF moved MiG-29s were the air base in order "to protect the capital from aerial threats."
Hindon was amongst nine airfields in the Western Air Command (WAC) for the Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure programme (MAFI), started in 2009, and due its proximity to the Delhi, work at the station which included equipping it with sensitive radars was commence first, scheduled to complete by 2011, when the first of six C-130J Hercules tactical transport aircraft are to arrive from the US, to be used be exclusively used by the Special Forces (SF). Hindon was designated to become home base for these aircraft, and for this purpose, the Hindon runway was extended and modern hangars, servicing and operations facilities suitable for the C-130J aircraft were added.
The Garud Commando Force
of the Indian Air Force are trained at this base.
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
base
Airbase
An airbase is a military airfield that provides basing and support of military aircraft....
under the Western Air Command (WAC). It is located near Ghaziabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in the National Capital Region
National Capital Region (India)
The National Capital Region in India is a name for the conurbation or metropolitan area which encompasses the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi as well as urban areas ringing it in neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan...
on the outskirts of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, close to the Hindon River
Hindon River
Hindon River, a tributary of Yamuna river, is a river in India that originates in the Saharanpur District, from Upper Shivalik in Lower Himalayan Range...
. Starting 2006, the annual Air Force Day Parade venue was shifted from Palam Airport to Hindon.
There is one runway, aligned east-west (09-27), of 9000 feet (2,743.2 m) length x 150 feet (45.7 m) width.
Units
2, 9, and 18 Squadrons operate MiG-27ML.- It currently operates Mi-17 IV from 129-HU i.e. Numbra Warriors.
- It also operates Cheetah and Chetak Helicopters from 131 F.A.C.
From early 2011, several of India's first C-130J cargo planes will be based at Hindon. They will be equipped with AAQ-22 Star Safire III electro-optical/infrared sensors. This newly formed squadron C-130s has been named No. 77 Squadron IAF. It was inaugrated by Defence Minister A.K. Antony. Group Captain Tejbir Singh will be the Commanding Officer of No.77 Squadron.
A hospital is also operational at the base.
History
Originally the base was home to a squadron each of MiG-23s and MiG-27s, both single-engine fighters. After the 1965 war, No. 7 Squadron IAF moved to Hindon along with Hawker HunterHawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
s, and stayed here till 1969, when it moved to Bagdogra
Bagdogra
Bagdogra is a small town in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, which is surrounded by tea gardens. Bagdogra is well connected by rail and air to the rest of the country. Bagdogra Airport is the only airport in North Bengal, which is now an International Airport. -References:...
, subsequently during the East Pakistan Operations 1971 it flew in on December 6, 1971. Prior to the No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron, Indian Air Force
The No.3 Squadron of the Indian Air Force operates as a Close Air Support and reconnaissance unit. Currently based at Pathankot AFB, No. 3 Sqn falls under the Western Air Command, and alongside the No.26 Sqn , No. 104HU and No.125HU , forms the 18 wing of the IAF.-Crest:No...
moved here in July 1971 and was operating Mystère IVA
Dassault Mystère IV
|-See also:-External links:*...
s at the time. After the war it moved back to Hindon, until it shifted base to Pathankot
Pathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
in 1975.
In mid-1980s it was identified by ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali
Salim Ali
Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali was an Indian ornithologist and naturalist. Known as the "birdman of India", Salim Ali was among the first Indians to conduct systematic bird surveys across India and his bird books helped develop ornithology...
among the 10 air bases in India prone to bird hits, due to the presence of slaughterhouses and dumping grounds in its vicinity being close to the Ghaziabad industrial city. In the coming years, the number of accidents increased. Finally in 1997, when three plane crashes occurred within a span of few days, Hindon was abandoned as a fighter base and remained home to Avro
Avro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
s and Mi-17
MI-17
MI-17 can refer to:* Mil Mi-17, Soviet helicopter*M-17...
helicopters and transport aircraft in the following years, apart from being used by the IAF Aircrew Examination Board. However in 2003, with growing terrorist threats, its importance as a strategic air base to provide air cover to the capital was realised, as Hindon-based fighters could reach the skies over New Delhi within five minutes as compared to the 15-plus minutues it would take from other closest bases, namely Sirsa, Ambala Air Force Base
Ambala Air Force Base
Ambala Air Force Station is an air base east of the urban Ambala area. It is used for military and government flights. It is also used to fly in politicians and other key people.-History:...
and Chandigarh Air Force Station, and thus Hindon was reactivated and area around it was cleaned up. September 2005, saw Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi becoming the first Chief of Air Staff to earn para wings while in office, as he finished his fifth and final para jump at Air Force Station Hindon.
In 2006, Indian Air Force shifted its 74th Anniversary celebration venue from Palam Airport in Delhi, to Hindon to avoid airspace closure for commercial traffic, where the Air Force Day Parade cum investiture ceremony was held on October 8, and an air display by 66 aircraft. This also gave the IAF aircraft more air space during the air show, till then was uses primarily as a helicopter base. After that it has become an annual event at the station.On June 1, 2007, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major flagged off a microlight expedition, part of the IAF’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, aiming to creating a record by completing the expedition, Around the World in 80 Days. Wing Commanders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar reached Hindon back on August 19, and covering 40,497 km in 80 days they achieved a speed of 21.092 km/h thus beating the previous record of 16.53 km/h set by Colin Bodil of the U.K. in 2001. Also in the same year, when the Airports Authority of India
Airports Authority of India
The Airports Authority of India is an organization working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation that manages most of the airports in India. The AAI manages and operates 126 airports including 16 international airports, 89 domestic airports and 26 civil enclaves. The corporate headquarters are at...
(AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a pilot project to test joint management of the airspace, Hindon was opened to civilian flights, though its open for flights only during stipulated hours of the day. After the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
IAF moved MiG-29s were the air base in order "to protect the capital from aerial threats."
Hindon was amongst nine airfields in the Western Air Command (WAC) for the Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure programme (MAFI), started in 2009, and due its proximity to the Delhi, work at the station which included equipping it with sensitive radars was commence first, scheduled to complete by 2011, when the first of six C-130J Hercules tactical transport aircraft are to arrive from the US, to be used be exclusively used by the Special Forces (SF). Hindon was designated to become home base for these aircraft, and for this purpose, the Hindon runway was extended and modern hangars, servicing and operations facilities suitable for the C-130J aircraft were added.
Historical use
- No. 5 Squadron IAF - JaguarSEPECAT JaguarThe SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
IS/IB - No. 14 Squadron IAF - Jaguar IS/IB
- No. 23 Squadron IAF - MiG-21 bis
- No. 24 Squadron IAF - MiG-21 bis
The Garud Commando Force
Garud Commando Force
The Garud Commando Force is the Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in September 2004 and has a strength of approximately 2000 personnel...
of the Indian Air Force are trained at this base.
External links
- Hindan Air Station at WikimapiaWikimapiaWikiMapia is a privately owned, online map and satellite imaging resource that combines Google Maps with a wiki system, allowing users to add information, in the form of a note, to any location on Earth. Users may currently use this information for free...
- Hindon Air Base at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...