Warbirds in Jodhpur

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Rajasthan ::

Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2008 18:03

Jodhpur

Jodhpur saw a plethora of training institutions in its time. The RAF had its No.1 Elementary Flying Training School (No.2 EFTS) during WW2 which imparted training in the Fairchild Cornell aircraft. Later on, No.2 Air Force Academy was set up by the IAF after Independence which used the Percival Prentice, and Harvard aircraft to provide the flying training. No.2 AFA was later redesignated as Air Force Flying College (AFFC) to impart advanced training on the Harvard.

	HAL HF-24 Marut D 1198 at the Jodhpur Air Force Station. This Marut is maintained in a much better condition . Pic Courtesy :Simon Watson
A Sukhoi-7 BMK in desert camo scheme on display at the "Heritage" - The Museum of South Western Air Command.

Flying training ceased after the 1965 Indo Pakistan war and but an Air Force Station is maintained there under the aegis of South Western Air Command. SWAC before moving to Gandhinagar had its Headquarters in Jodhpur. At the erstwhile HQ was a SWAC HQ Museum which housed some artifacts including the wreckage of a F-104 Starfighter from the 1971 War. It is not clear whether the Museum is still in Jodhpur or has moved to Gandhinagar. In Sept 2001, A new Heritage Museum was opened in the erstwhile Command house. This museum houses three aircraft and also is believed to hold the F-104 Wreck.