Phasing out ceremony of MI-8 held in Bengaluru

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The MI-8, also known as the “PRATAP”, phasing out ceremony was  held on December 17, 2017, at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru. The ceremony was attended by veterans headed by Air Chief Marshall (Retd) Fali Homi Major PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC. He flew the last MI-8 mission along with CO 112HU.

Air Marashal SRK Nair PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, IAF was the chief guest on the occasion. Air Marshal Jasjit  Singh Kler, VM, Commandant NDA, the senior most MI-8 helicopter was also present on the occasion.

The MI-8 helicopter arrived in India in 1971 at Bombay and were formally inducted in the Indian Air Force helicopter inventory in 1972. Between 1971 and 1988, Indian Air Force inducted 107 MI-8 helicopters, rechristened as the “PRATAP”, according to a PIB release.

The MI-8, PRATAP, was inducted in ten operational helicopter units and it operated in several major IAF operations including Operation Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka.