On May 8, 2023, Chandigarh’s Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre received its official opening from Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The 17,000-square-foot heritage centre at the Government Press Building emphasizes the IAF’s participation in various wars. In addition to giving visitors access to the cockpit and a flight simulator experience, it houses five vintage aircraft.
It also houses the first IAF-produced patent aircraft, the single-engine indigenous Air Force “Kanpur-1 Vintage Prototype Aircraft”, which was designed and built by the late Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh in 1958 at Base Repair Depot Kanpur. The Union Territory (UT) administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari, MP Kirron Kher, and other administrative staff members were present.
At the centre is a gift shop with scale models and a memorial to the IAF. The various rescue operations being carried out by the IAF, both domestically and internationally, will gradually be updated at this centre as well. Projectors will also be used to display the initiatives made by the Air Force Family Welfare Association to assist the families of airmen at the station, regional, and national levels. In addition to preserving the IAF’s rich history, this initiative, according to Rajnath Singh, will encourage young people to enlist in the military.
In June 2022, in Banwarilal Purohit’s presence, the Chandigarh administration and the Indian Air Force signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the heritage centre.
This centre uses murals and artefacts to illustrate the IAF’s participation in various conflicts, such as the ones in 1965, 1971, the Kargil war, and the Balakot air strike. He predicted this would draw a lot of interest from residents of other states and Chandigarh.
Singh stated in another tweet that this admirable initiative would contribute to preserving the Indian Air Force’s rich history and encourage young people to enlist. The minister additionally revealed a plaque for the centre for cyber operation and security (CenCOPS).
It is a proud moment for us, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said of the heritage centre’s opening later when speaking with reporters. It is a proud moment for us, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said of the heritage centre’s opening later when speaking with reporters.
After seeing this, I’m sure many young people will want to join the IAF, he predicted. The heritage centre, divided into various sections, contains several attractions, including aircraft models, aero engines, and weapons, including Gryazev-Shipunov twin-barrelled guns.
According to the officials, it also displays interactive kiosks highlighting various IAF aspects in augmented reality, holograms, virtual reality, and electro-mechanical enclosures. Additionally, the centre has flying simulators that allow visitors to experience flight. Five vintage planes and SAM-III Pechora missiles are among the other highlights of the heritage centre.
