CHANDIGARH: A 'heritage flying expedition' in a vintage Pushpak aircraft, conducted by Sapta Shakti Command to commemorate the golden jubilee of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, was flagged off on Monday by Lieutenant General D R Soni, general officer commanding, Chetak Corps, from Bathinda.
Over 55-year-old Pushpak aircraft, designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, was used for air observation in the 1965 and 1971 wars. The aircraft has been rebuilt and refurbished to flying standards with no modern equipment.
Aim of this expedition is to honour the martyrs who had laid down their lives during the 1965 war. The expedition commenced from Bathinda and will fly all along the western border from Naliya in Kutch, Gujarat to Jaurian in Jammu and Kashmir. It will culminate at Jaipur on September 22. The expedition team will also interact with students and local youth at various places en route to showcase the achievements of the Indian Army.
The Pushpak is being flown by Brigadier AS Sidhu and Lieutenant Colonel Arvind Saini.