SHILLONG: Air Marshal C. Hari Kumar, air officer commanding-in-chief of Eastern Air Command, said on Saturday it was time for Indian Air Force to set its priorities for future.
Speaking at ‘Air Fest 2016’ to mark the 84th anniversary of the air force at Eastern Air Command headquarters in Upper Shillong, the air marshal said over the years, the force has become the finest and most professional in the country and the credit for IAF’s success “goes to its predecessors who had the foresight and the planning, The air force was started in 1932.
“The main task on our anniversary is to look what have we done as a force and what is required to be done and how do we progress in the future,” he told media persons.
Stating that Eastern Air Command has grown in stature due to its strategic location, he said large accretion of forces is coming up in the sector both in terms of equipment and manpower to take to any challenges.
Reacting to a query about less number of youth from the North East joining the air force, Kumar said as soon as infrastructure and connectivity increase in the region, people would join. “People here don’t hate Indian Air Force and when they will come to know what is there in it and what else can happen, they will come in large numbers to join the Indian Air Force,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Kumar inaugurated the festival at Shillong Advance Landing Ground. The festival started with a fly past of Mi-17 helicopters and Su-30 MKI aircraft. This was followed by a display by the Indian Air Force ‘Air Devils’ team that carried out sky-diving and free-fall parajumps.
There was also a demonstration on slithering operations by ‘GARUD’, the elite commandos of the Indian Air Force. Aero modelling, static display of aircraft and performance by the military were some other highlights of the festival. Adventure events like zorbing, rappelling and crawling were also organised.
A large number of people, especially school students and colleges, were among the audience.
