Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Jan 24, 2023 30 tweets 11 min read Read on X
Republic Day Flypasts have enamoured our nation for decades. As we approach another such flypast, we look back at the first 50 years of #RepublicDay flypasts. Together the journey of flypasts is a mosaic of the country, its people, and the @IAF_MCC . #IAFHistory (1/30) Image
In 1950, IAF imposed a ban on flypasts, but for the momentous occasion, ACM Elmhirst allowed a 9 aircraft “loose” Liberator formation to do a flypast. The job fell on 5 Sqn, at Poona under the command of Wg Cdr HSR Gohel. 9 ac Lib formation would be a regular going forward. 2/ Image
1951 saw a mixed formation of Harvard, Tempest, Vampire, Dakota& Libs of about 40 aircraft. The formation made the letters IAF with 23 aircraft from 3 & 4 Sqns and was led by Minoo Engineer. Minoo would take flypasts to a different level about two decades later. 3/ Image
Vampire and Libs continued in 1952 & 53. In 1953, IAF showcased the homegrown HT-2 Trainer that had just been inducted. 6 ac flew in from Bangalore. Arjan Singh led the flypasts in both years. He would lead for a record 7 years across his career. 4/ Image
Between 1954 & 58, Flypasts were arranged into “Subsonic” & “Transonic” blocks. Toofanis (1954), (Mysteres, Hunters, Canberras & Gnats) (58) debuted at the RD. Typically, the ac flew 4 ac box formations. In ‘58, the sound barrier was broken for the first time.5/ Image
As a result of the rising breadth of IAF ac inventory, flypasts in the late 50s included 70 odd aircraft across 6-7 types with 6-12 aircraft of each type. Toofanis provided the oomph from 1954 – performing vertical climbs & peel-off while streaming the tricolour. 6/ Image
The next big change happened in 1962. 3 helicopters dropped petals for the first time at Rajpath. This was followed by Avro (Subroto) being showcased as also the HF24. At a total of nearly 80 aircraft, this was the largest display till then. 7/ Image
The 1962 flypast also was a grim reminder of the risk pilots take in formation flying. During a rehearsal, on 17 Jan 1962, Gp Capt ZA Shah and Flt Lt VK Singh flying a Vampire (45 Sqn) & Gnat (23 Sqn) respectively were killed during a mid-air collision while joining circuit. 8/ Image
The practice of showering petals/ flying with a national flag before the parade has persisted non-stop with minor modifications. It started in 1959, when a S-55 did it for the first time. Later on the job was taken over by a Mi-4 (1966- 75), Mi-8 (76-85) & Mi-17 (86 onwards) 9/ Image
Another practice that occurred non-stop atleast between 1955 -73 was that AOC-in-C of the Western Air Command used to lead the flypast, flying in the lead ac. They flew the Vampire (Arjan Singh), Canberra (Pinto, Rajaram, Shivdev Singh) & MiG-21 (MM Engineer). 10/ Image
After the peak of 1962, ‘63 did not have a flypast due to the war-the first time since 1950. It was not until 1968 that the flypast size returned to the levels of 1962- being between 35-50 aircraft – Canberra, Mystere, Hunter, Gnat & Toofani. 11/
In 1964, The Gnats flew at trail height (30K feet) & not the usual 500-800 feet that they were doing earlier. But this also marked the first time, the flypast had a different formation – the Echelon formation by the Gnats. It was the first of many innovations in years ahead. 12/ Image
Another innovation was shown in 1964 with the Toofanis modifying the showstopper. After the first loop over the saluting base, they went in for a 2nd & from the vertical posn executed a “Prince of Wales peel-off” under command of CO 47 Sqn, S/L CD Fernandes. 13/ Image
1966 is when IAF finally added a third block to its RD flypast – the “Supersonic” block. 4 MiG-21s & 4 HF-24 Maruts flew 45 seconds after the transonic block. In the 1969 flypast, as many as 44 MiG-21s flew, a record for any type ever in any RD Flypast. 14/ Image
1968 & 1969 were the years of gay abandon for Flypasts in India. Both held under Shivdev Singh as AOC-in-C WAC, 136 (7 minutes) & 164 (9 minutes) ac took part in these two displays. We had come a full circle from the days just prior to the 1962 war. 15/
“Vic Formation” gained prominence during this period, taking over from Box formation historically, at least for the sub-sonic block. Canberras moved to it. In both years, the 20+ aircraft Canberra formation was led by 5 Sqn CO, W/C Ashok Kumar. 16/ Image
After 13 years as the showstopper, the Toofani finally gave way to the Hunters in 1968. For the coming 15 years or so, the 7 or 9-aircraft Vic formation of Hunters would enthral the crowds, pulling up at Rajpath and dispensing the national colour trails. 17/
The introduction of the Transport fleet for the first time happened in 1968 with the An-12s of 44 Sqn under W/C VC Mankotia of 44 Sqn, performing the vic formation of 3, in all 12 aircraft. 18/ Image
These years also saw a much larger helicopter show of strength. 3 Alouettes (Chetak) and 7 Mi-4s flew over Rajpath with petals and the national flag. The Chetak would also showcase the Elephant dance (in a unique camo) from 1970-73 & 1979-85. 19/ Image
Btwn 1970 & 73, 4 Flypasts were held under Minoo Engineer as AOC-in-C WAC. An avid flyer, he took to further innovations. In 1971, in a first, he flew in a Bright red MiG-21 & did a pull-up. In 1971, the Su-7 participated for the first time, 24 of them together. 20/ Image
1970, saw the third Mid-air collision in the run-up to RD Parade rehearsal. One of the aircraft crashing in Delhi, but the other nursed back courageously. That story is on this link - 21/ Image
Post 1973, austerity measures of the Govt & shortage of fuel led again led to a curtailment of flypasts. 1974 had no flypast & 1975-80 were done smaller scales of 25-30 aircraft. Menace of birds in Delhi region was also beginning to hinder safe flying. 22/ Image
In 1981, Jaguar and MiG-23 were introduced into flypasts. While Jaguars did a 12 a/c display, a solo MiG-23 was flown by CO 10 Sqn, W/C RL Bamzai, and the aircraft was nick-named “High Speed”. 23/ Image
In 1982, Hunters replaced hunters! The baton of the showstoppers moved from the Hunter formation to the formal aerobatics display team of IAF – Thunderbolts under W/C PS “Ben” Brar. 24/ Image
Over the next few years, Chetaks (elephant Dance), Mi-8s, MiG-23s, Jaguars, MiG- 21s , Maruts & Thunderbolts did displays of 30 odd aircraft. In 1986, weather led to the cancellation of the flypast. However, it was executed during the Beating the Retreat. 25/
This flypast in 1986 was unique as it had 3 IL-76s under G/C Ashok Goel being flanked by 2 Ajeets. Both these aircraft doing a flypast for the first time, apart from the other usual aircraft. This was the last display till 1996 as IAF shuttered RD flypasts. 26/ Image
The flypast returned in 96. While the ac changed, the practice of flypast under the AOC-in-C WAC continued with Air Mshl Tipnis taking to the skies in a Jaguar. The highlight was the Big-boy formation of 1 Il-76 +2 An-32 + 2 Do-228, a formation that flies to date. 27/ Image
4 Mi-17 carried out an inverted Glass formation in display that also had 15 MiG-29s & 15 Jaguars. In 96, to build in safety for spectators, flypasts involved only multi engine ac. In 97, the Mi-26 joined the Mi-17s & the MiG-29 performed a vertical Charlie as the showstopper. 28/
1998 saw the Canberra perform for the last time, 40 years since its first display. It also had the Su-30K (earlier variant of MKI) show up for the first time where three aircraft did the vertical Charlie and low loops. 29/ Image
As RD Flypasts turned half a century, they introduced Naval aircraft – Kamov and Tu-142 in 1999 and 2000. Later the Army joined in as well. Fiscal prudence has probably reduced the size of the show, but it still enthrals us as it has since 1950. Look forward to this year. 30/

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More from @AnchitGupta9

Oct 13
1/8: Reflecting on the success of India’s Radar & Communication Indigenisation Project, I had to ask—why did it succeed while other aviation projects, faced significant delays, despite similar govt mechanisms?

Sharing my key takeaways 👇
2/8: Objective clarity was the cornerstone of RCPO. The primary goal? Plugging air defence gaps.This target was broken down into milestones spanning a decade. Indigenisation followed. Of the initial ₹185 Cr budget, ₹105 Cr was for foreign eqpt—a decade later, this had reversed
3/8: Breaking down objectives into visible milestones was a game-changer. RCPO had deliverables every 2-3 years: set up X nodes, design/ install Y radars, and build Z software. When stakeholders can see progress they benefit from, confidence and support skyrocket.
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#IAFHistory Image
The early 20th century witnessed a significant transformation in military structures, driven by the harsh realities of the Boer Wars (1899-1902). Reflecting on the conflict's challenges, the concept of "Staffs of the Services" emerged. 2/
These staff comprised officers with specialised qualifications tasked with reflective work, including acquiring and digesting extensive information, studying war possibilities, and preparing plans for potential scenarios. 3/ Image
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Mar 2
Jamangar Air Force station is in news these days. Jamnagar holds a very important place in @IAF_MCC. A topic worthy of a longer thread, but a few milestones are mentioned here.

A short thread (1/13) #IAFHistory Image
Jamanagar was not an Air Force Airbase before Independence, though the Jam Saheb was popular in the aviation circles. Post-independence, IAF was searching for a air firing and bombing range. After a search - it settled up Jamnagar and called it Armament Training Wing (ATW). 2/
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Feb 14
Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bharadwaj, PVSM, MVC, VM, affectionately nicknamed "Mummy", passed away at 89 yesterday.

He was awarded MVC during the 1971 War, attacking Pakistan's airfields in the west. He was one of the only two Sqn Ldrs to receive this award(1/9)

#IAFHistory Image
From the 66th Pilot Course, he was commissioned in 1955 & joined the fighter stream. In 1961, he qualified as a Pilot Attack Instructor, the modern-day "Top Gun". The CO of PAI School, Nobby Clarke, gave the nickname "Mummy" for his sweet demeanour. It stuck for life. 2/ Image
Mummy also served in training extensively - He served as an instructor in Iraq & was with the OTU, training hunter pilots before the 1971 War, which earned him a Vayu Sena Medal, too. he continued his role in training later in life in staff appointments. 3/ Image
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While researching the initial lot of Cranwell graduates, I came across a name that caught my eye. This name was that of a certain Mr WHJ Wilkinson CIE ICS, whose name figures in most entry forms of the @IAF_MCC Cadets who went to Cranwell. The name did intrigue me a lot. (1/18) Image
My subsequent research revealed the story of a man who lived a very interesting life in India. It is a story that needs to be told, even if not directly related to #IAFHistory. It also has some gaps (gaps that I hope will be filled by crowdsourcing). 2/
Walter Hugh John Wilkinson was born in 1874 & went on to study at Oxford. Joining the ICS as a Political Officer, the 23-year-old arrived in India on 29 Nov 1897. His first five years were spent in various capacities in Bombay.. 3/
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Dec 17, 2023
What was it like to be in the @IAF_MCC in 1933?
This narrative captures the essence of that first year, viewed through the eyes of the early aviators. Little did they know their journey would demand courage and sacrifice. (1/20) #IAFHistory Image
The first Indian Air Force officers completed their education at RAF College Cranwell in July 1932. They spent a few months training in England. Subsequently, in April 1933, they returned to India to create the first flight of the No 1 Squadron. 2/ Image
Flight Lieutenant Cecil "Boy" Bouchier assumed command of this Flight. Boy Bouchier was a distinguished WWI veteran honoured with the DFC, AFC, and Polish and French Crosses. He volunteered for this role when no other British officer was prepared to lead. 3/ Image
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