Newly-Inducted C295 Aircraft To Grace Air Force Day Celebrations In Prayagraj

Officials said on Monday that the new C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft is expected to be part of the Air Force Day celebrations in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Every year, on October 8, there is a parade and air show for Air Force Day.

On Monday, the first C295 plane joined the IAF at the Hindon Air Force station. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari were there.

A top IAF official said, “The plane will be part of the IAF Day celebrations that are going to be held in Prayagraj.”

Another official said that it is likely to be one of the most interesting parts of the event. About 70–80 planes are expected to be there for the IAF Day celebrations.

They said that both old and new planes will be in the yearly parade.

“On October 8, the Indian Air Force will mark its 91st birthday.” In keeping with the new practice of having Air Force Day celebrations in different parts of the country, this year’s parade and air show will be held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh,” the IAF said earlier.

The ceremony parade would be held at Air Force station Bamrauli, and the air show would be over the Sangam area, near the Prayagraj ordnance store fort.

The events were held in Chandigarh last year.

The IAF said that the close formation of planes passing over Prayagraj would be more interesting because of the beautiful scenery there.

The IAF is getting 56 C295 transport planes from Airbus Defence and Space as part of a Rs 21,935-crore deal to replace its fleet of old Avro-748 planes.

Under the agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 planes in “fly-away” state by 2025. The next 40 planes will be made and put together in India by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) as part of a business partnership between the two companies.

The C295 is known as a superior plane that can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers tactically and do logistics work in places where heavier planes can’t go.