No. 131 Helicopter Flight, IAF

No. 131 Helicopter Flight
Active	2 August 1974 - Present
Country	India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Role	Search and Rescue Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Casualty evacuation
Garrison/HQ	Thanjavur AFS
Nickname(s)	"Eagle Eyes"
Motto(s)	Savage and Powerful
Aircraft flown
Transport	HAL Cheetah

No. 131 Helicopter Flight (Eagle Eyes) is a helicopter unit and is equipped with HAL Cheetah and HAL Chetak. The unit is currently operating from Thanjavur Air Force Station (47 Wing) under the aegis of the Southern Air Command since 20 March 2024. It serves the purpose of Search and Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Casualty evacuation roles. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The unit, nicknamed Airborne Pointers, was originally established on 2 August 1974 at Pathankot Air Force Station for Forward Air Control or Light Observation missions. Eventually the unit was shifted to Udhampur AFS in 1975 to Halwara AFS in 1987. From late 1990s to December 2021 the unit was based at Hindon Air Force Station. ^[4]

History

Aircraft

• HAL Cheetah
• HAL Chetak

References

1. "INDUCTION OF HELICOPTER UNIT AT AIR FORCE STATION THANJAVUR". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
2. "Indian Air Force". Orbats. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
3. @NewsIADN (2024-03-21). "No 131 Helicopter Unit moved from Hindon AFS to AFS Thanjavur of Southern Air Command (SAC)" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-10-18– via Twitter.
4. "No.131 FAC Flight, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2024-10-18.