BENGALURU: The phasing out ceremony of MI-8 helicopters, also known as the “Pratap”, was held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka on Sunday.
The ceremony was attended by veterans, including former air chief Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Fali Homi Major. Air Marashal S.R.K. Nair, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, was the chief guest. Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler, VM, Commandant NDA, the senior most MI-8 helicopter pilot was also present on the occasion.
MI-8 operated in several major IAF operations including Operation Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The helicopter also operated extensively in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief operations across the country. The MI-8 helicopter, built in former Soviet Union, was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1972. Between 1971 and 1988, Indian Air Force inducted 107 MI-8 helicopters, rechristened as “Pratap”.
