Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister, has inaugurated the Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre in Chandigarh, which is the first of its kind, on Monday. According to the minister, the centre is a symbol of the bravery and commitment of all those who have served in the force and a reminder of their significant contributions in safeguarding the country. He also mentioned that the centre will assist in conserving the IAFs extensive legacy and inspire young people to consider joining the armed forces.The IAF Heritage Centre in Chandigarh was established through an MOU between the Union Territory of Chandigarh and the IAF that was signed in 2020. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, and MP Kirron Kher. During the event, Defence Minister Singh had the opportunity to sit in a MiG-21 aircraft displayed at the centre and also tried out a flying simulator.Image source: mm.bing.netThe IAF Heritage Centre is located in Sector 18 and covers an area of 17,000 square feet. It showcases five decommissioned aircraft, including a Hindustan Piston Trainer-32 primary flying trainer aircraft, a MiG 21 single-seat fighter, and a GNAT aircraft (Sabre Slayer). Additionally, Air Force Kanpur 1, which was built by Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh in 1958, is also on display. The centre highlights the significant role played by the Indian Air Force in various conflicts, such as the wars of 1947, 1948, 1965, and 1971, as well as the Kargil Conflict and the Balakot Air Strikes.Visitors can also experience flying through the flight simulators available at the centre. Additionally, the centre features SAM-III Pechora missiles as one of its main attractions.A special segment at the centre is dedicated to the contribution of women officers in the Indian Air Force. In addition to this, the centre has scale models of various aircraft including Netra, Parchand, Mi-26, MiG 29, Tejas, C-130 J Hercules, IL-78 MKI Aerial refueller, Sukhoi SU-30 MKI, advanced light helicopter-Dhruv and Integrated Air Command and Control system workstation.The centre showcases the glorious history of the IAF through murals that illustrate the forces various war campaigns, beginning with the Indo-Pak war of 1948, and through electro-mechanical 3D-dioramas depicting its latest operations, such as the Balakot air strike.The audio-visual gallery at the IAF Heritage Centre in Chandigarh will showcase the journey of the IAF from its inception to the modern era, as well as promotional movies. The centre will be managed by the Chandigarh Administration, and visitors will need to book tickets through an application on the tourism department website of Chandigarh. Admission is free for visitors under 18 years old, while others will need to pay a fee of Rs 50. The cost of cockpit visits will be Rs 295, with three time slots available: 10 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM.The Heritage Centre will be open from 10 AM to 6 PM every day except for Mondays, which will be closed. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase IAF souvenirs and scale models from the souvenir shop, and a themed cafe will provide refreshments and snacks to visitors.
