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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 1529.PDF
• V * * . * - 4 744 THE INDIAN AIR FORCE . . . FLIGHT I.A.F. seems very pleased with them; almost reluctant, I thoughtto criticize what, by nature, cannot be perfect. There have been some severe internal temperature problems to be overcome anddust and monsoon rains have also brought difficulties in their train; but, in general, satisfactory service is being obtained and activesteps are being taken to overcome remaining environmental mal- functions. At one station I visited, three units—a bomber con-version unit, a survey and reconnaissance unit, and a light bomber squadron—had homes around the airfield perimeter and the lattertwo units were rapidly working up to full operational status. Before the Canberras arrived, I.A.F. engineering officers spent six monthsin the United Kingdom with English Electric and Rolls-Royce, and a nucleus of aircrews and ground staff were also trained inBritain; these included all die instructors of the Canberra con- version unit. Some of the aircraft were flown out by Silver CityAirways pilots, but Indian crews returning from a Canberra con- version course ferried-out others, and the great range and excellenthigh-altitude performance made light work of the 5,000-mile delivery flight. From S/L. Agtey, who commands the bomber conversion unit,I learned of the progress that is being made in conversion training. The unit was formed in May last year and operates a mixed bagof still very new-looking T.4s and B.58s, the syllabus generally (Upper left) Standard I.A.F. heavy transport is the C-119 Packet; here air dropping is demonstrated by an aircraft engaged on an exercise (Left) Now largely super- seded by Mysteres, Dassault Ouragons (Indian name, Toofani) still form part of the Commonwealth defen- sive force (Below) A pattern of aircraft servicing to suit local needs has been developed by the I.A.F. for their Hunter 6s (Right) A photograph that hardly needs a caption-—a "fearful symmetry" of hand and eye expressed by the Shah Jeban's Taj Mahal and I.A.F. Canberra B(l).5Ss
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