| No. 131 Helicopter Flight | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2 August 1974 - Present |
| Country |  Republic of India |
| Branch |  Indian Air Force |
| Role | Light Observation Helicopter Forward Air Control |
| Garrison/HQ | Hindon AFS |
| Nickname(s) | "Airborne Pointers" |
| Motto(s) | Savage and Powerful |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Transport | HAL Cheetah |
No. 131 Helicopter Flight (Airborne Pointers) is a Forward Air Control Helicopter squadron and is equipped with HAL Cheetah and based at Hindon Air Force Station. [1]
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bangalore (Bengaluru), India. It is governed under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence. The government-owned corporation is primarily involved in the operations of the aerospace and is currently involved in the design, fabrication and assembly of aircraft, jet engines, helicopters and their spare parts.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India's aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal. After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of Dominion of India. With the government's transition to a Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed.
The HAL Dhruv is a utility helicopter designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The development of HAL Dhruv was announced in November 1984. The helicopter first flew in 1992; however, its development was prolonged due to multiple factors including the Indian Army's requirement for design changes, budget restrictions, and sanctions placed on India following the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests. The name comes from a Sanskrit origin word dhruv which means unshakeable or firm.
The Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama is a French single-engined helicopter developed to meet hot and high operational requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. It combines the lighter Aérospatiale Alouette II airframe with Alouette III components and powerplant. The Lama possesses exceptional high altitude performance.
The Namibian Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Namibian Defence Force. It was commissioned on 13 March 2005 at Grootfontein Air Force Base. Following the independence of Namibia from South Africa in 1990, the Air defense wing of the defense forces were established on 23 July 1994. The policy, mission statements and concept of operations envisage the development of an Air Force to operate in support of the Army and the Navy.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) along with its derivative Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) is design and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Center (RWR&DC) one of the R&D sections of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for civilian and military applications. They are set to replace older under licensed HAL built versions of Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama and Aérospatiale Alouette III in service with Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
Tambaram Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force airfield in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Located in the neighborhood of Tambaram, this Air Force station is primarily involved in the training of pilots as Qualified Flying Instructors and Mechanical Training Institute for airmen.
The Western Air Command (WAC) is the regional command of Indian Air Force headquartered in New Delhi. It is the largest and most important Air Command of the IAF, comprising sixteen Air Force Bases (AFBs), and is responsible for aerial defence of North India.
The Army Aviation Corps is a component of the Indian Army which was formed on 1 November 1986. The corps is headed by a director general at army headquarters in New Delhi.
The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade its aging and outdated equipment since the late 90s to modern standards. For that reason it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 80s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the Air Force.
INS Shikra, formerly known as INS Kunjali, is an Indian naval air station located at Colaba in Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra. This is the only Indian naval air station without a full-fledged runway to operate fixed-wing aircraft. INS Shikra is primarily a heliport. Visiting fixed wing naval aircraft use the city's Mumbai International Airport or the Juhu Aerodrome.
Sulur Air Force Station is an air base of the Indian Air Force located at Sulur near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is India's Second Largest Air Base after Hindon AFS. It is the base which is responsible for protection of India's Sea area. It is only Base in India which handles Both Fighter and Transport flights at one location, no other base in India is Equipped to do so. It is only IAF BASE in India to have all Departments at one location i.e Fighters, Carrier Planes, Carrier Helicopters, Attack Choppers, A Repair and Overhauling Depot, TETTRA School, Air Force Hospital, Southern Command Sub Headquarters, ECHS. It is a former Royal Navy and Indian Navy base.
No. 111 Helicopter Unit is a Helicopter Unit and is equipped with HAL Dhruv MKIII and based at Bareilly Air Force Station.
No. 114 Helicopter Unit is a Helicopter Unit and is equipped with HAL Cheetah and based at Leh Air Force Station.
No. 115 Helicopter Unit is a Helicopter Unit and is equipped with HAL Dhruv and based at Tezpur Air Force Station.
No. 116 Helicopter Unit (Tankbusters) is a Helicopter Unit and is equipped with HAL Chetak and based at Jodhpur Air Force Station.
No. 117 Helicopter Unit is a Helicopter Unit and is equipped with ALH MK-III and based at Sarsawa Air Force Station.
No. 132 Helicopter Flight is a Forward Air Control Helicopter squadron and is equipped with HAL Cheetah and based at Udhampur Air Force Station.
Wing Commander Shaliza Dhami is an officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF). She is the first woman officer in the IAF to receive a permanent commission and the first woman to become a Flight Commander.
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