Air Force Academy is located at Dundigal, about 35 Kms away from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, in the state of Telangana. The academy is spread over 7,000 acres of land. The foundation stone for the academy was laid on 11 Oct 1967 by the then president Dr Zakir Hussain and was formally inaugurated on 16 Jan 1971. The crest of the academy is a Himalayan Eagle over a lighted lamp within a roundel, placed directly below the state emblem. The all pervasive endeavor of the academy is pursuit of excellence, in keeping with the motto "SHRAM SE SIDHI' i.e. "ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH DILIGENCE". The academy was set up to train cadets from all streams at one location. It imparts training to the Flying, Technical and Ground Duty Branches of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and friendly countries. The induction of India's own jet trainer, the Kiran took place between Oct-Dec 1973. The first all-through course element on Kiran commenced flying in January 1974. However, the use of the good old Harvard at the Academy continued till November 1975 when they were finally phased out. While the all-through course element on Kiran commenced in January 1974, the all-through jet training commenced in July 1983. Training on HPT-32 was introduced in July 1985. Advanced Stage Il training on Kiran was undertaken by the Academy in July 1988. Later, in September 1990, the Short Service Commission (Helicopter) Pilots' Course commenced. Most recently, in January 2006, Stage Il Advanced Phase Flying training on Kiran has been shifted to Hakimpet due to restructuring of Flying training. . The academy upgraded to PC-7 MK-II in 2013. With this, the present role of the Academy as regards Flying training is to conduct the Stage I (Basic Phase) of Flying training of IAF and foreign cadets, Naval officers and Coast Guard officers on HPT-32. Also has 92 ATSRU (A radar Units), 14 AF hospital, A dental Units, a 6 TETTRA