Vayu Aerospace and Defence

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Griffin or Wolfpack ?

Born on the same day and bearing the same number (No.9) are two sub-continenta­l squadrons, on different sides of the Radcliffe line. No.9 Squadron IAF were equipped with Hurricane IICs on 3 January 1944 and were soon operating in earnest during the Arakan campaign. After the war, and re-equipped with Tempest IIs, No.9 (with their Griffin squadron crest) were at Peshawar when the sword of partition cleaved them off and so they became the RPAF’s premier fighter squadron, later flying Starfighte­rs and presently F-16s.

The IAF re-raised their own No.9 Squadron in March 1964, with the Gnat light fighter but did not formalise a crest till many years later, finally choosing a ‘ Wolfpack’, the artwork being considered somewhat amateurish. Still, flying top of the line Mirage 2000s they recently celebrated their Platinum Jubilee, thus tracing their roots back to that winter day in Lahore, 75 years back.

Nostalgia or Amnesia ?

“Halwara Happiness”

Under UDAN, Halwara is to be part of the civil aviation air connectivi­ty scheme. One of the IAF’s first post- partition air stations, Halwara, off the LudhianaFe­rozpore road, is regarded as one of the most important fighter bases in the north. Hosting frontline squadrons since the early fifties, Halwara has acquired a reputation for homeliness, being surrounded by Punjabi villages with their characteri­stic open-hearted hospitalit­y. Through war and peace, this relationsh­ip has been nurtured and the appellatio­n “Halwara Happiness” bestowed upon it to emphasise the relationsh­ip.

Main Sadkey Jaavan !

Better books than boots

President Trump’s jibe on India’s aid to Afghanista­n, which mocked building of the new Afghan Parliament at Kabul (thought it was a ‘library’) was shrugged off by South Block with the comment instead that there was “no question of putting boots on the ground”. India’s developmen­tal assistance to that war-torn country is highly appreciate­d, certainly by their young generation who are looking beyond guns and mines, with cricket also now becoming a craze amongst young Afghans.

Howzat ?

Jumbo to Kullu

Leading Indian newspapers announced that Air India have resumed its regular flights between Chandigarh and Kullu in the Himalayas, the flights having been cancelled in mid-December owing to bad weather conditions. Hooray ! Except that the news item included an image of the Air India Boeing 747 Jumbo which can carry some 400 passengers but needs an internatio­nal size airport, while Kullu’s short runway can only accommodat­e a 40-seater ATR.

But when I grow up ….

The Gorkhas have it !

The Indian (and British) Army’s have long recruited Gorkhas to serve under their colours and this proud tradition has continued for nearly two centuries. In August 1947, the all- volunteer Indian Army retained six Rifle Regiments while four marched off with the departing British. Today, seven decades later, the ratio of manpower numbers is actually 15 : 1 and likely to remain so.

Now across the English Channel, and faced with reducing ‘volunteers’, the German Army are actually considerin­g recruiting those with migrant background or even of dual nationalit­y : yet another opportunit­y for the plucky Gorkhas ?

Ayo Gorkhali !

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