Pushpak on J&K-Gujarat trip for ’65 war anniv

CHANDIGARH: As part of the golden jubilee commemorations of the 1965 IndoPak war the Army is undertaking a Heritage Flying Expedition in a vintage Pushpak aircraft that would traverse the western border from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat

Updated At : 07:15 AM Sep 15, 2015 IST

Pilots of the Heritage Flying Expedition with Pushpak aircraft in Bathinda on Monday. A Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 14

As part of the golden jubilee commemorations of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the Army is undertaking a “Heritage Flying Expedition” in a vintage Pushpak aircraft that would traverse the western border from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat.

The aim of this expedition is to honour the martyrs. It will also generate awareness among the present generation about the type of aircraft and the difficult and rudimentary flying conditions of the by-gone era.

The Pushpak aircraft being flown, designed and developed more than 55 years ago by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, was used for air observation in the 1965 and the 1971 wars. The aircraft has been rebuilt and refurbished to flying standards without retrofitting any modern equipment.

Being conducted under the aegis of the Sapta Shakti Command, the expedition was flagged off today by Lt Gen DR Soni, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps, from Bathinda. The Pushpak is being flown by Brig AS Sidhu and Lt Col Arvind Saini of the Army Aviation Corps.

A total of 3,000 km will be flown in the vintage aircraft from Naliya in the Kutch to Jaurian in J&K. The expedition is scheduled to culminate at Jaipur on September 22. The expedition team will also interact with the students and local youth at various places.