A young Canberra jock in a much decorated and revered squadron is faced with an emergency that could take his life and that of his navigator. This is the story of a rare Canberra 'belly landing' that helped save a much valuable aircraft
Many years ago (circa 2002) we published the story of Flight Cadet Balan Menon and the escapade that caused his exist from the Air Force. Balan Menon passed away on 24th April 2018 at 1630 hrs, due to respiratory complications, at the old age home in Thumba (Trivandrum).
"A man with a brilliant mind, determination and undying passion for aviation, a maverick who lived by his own rules of right or wrong, never afraid to explore frontiers of science and technology far ahead of his peergroup, a man who could have achieved fame and fortune but didn't care; he has left us quietly." ~ Wg Cdr U G Kartha
Now Updated with the contents of an old letter - that Balan's late mother has written fifteen years ago when she read this article.
On 6 December 2014, Marshal of the Air Force, Arjan Singh reviewed the gathering of the Canberra Veterans at "Bomber Night" in Pune. The event was a major success with several veterans of the Canberra fraternity gathering from all over India in one night to celebrate the role of a beloved aircraft in the presence of a living legend.
Group Captain Kapil Bhargava (3939 F(P) who passed away on 17th December 2014, a was a good friend and a supporter for this website . He contributed so many articles on History that he had his own "sub-site" on Bharat Rakshak. He was also one of those behind the Gnat Get-together event and the Gnat Golden Jubilee website (now hosted on bharat-rakshak). Several tributes rolled in when he left for his final flight. we reproduced two such tributes to him in this page.
The complete story of No.1 Squadron's operations in the Imphal Battle told in detail never before known. First published in an abridged form for the WW2 Imphal Battle Commemoration Brochure. This article also puts names to the unknown faces - and lists out those who sacrificed their lives in the battle.
A look at PAF Air Marshal Malik Nur Khan's time with the Indian Air Force before the division of the IAF. This piece was first penned for Shiv Aroor's LiveFist Blog in 2011.
On a dark night, exactly 57 years ago, two young lives were extinguished in the skies of england near RAF Bassingbourn. Flt Lt S H K Naidu and Flt Lt D P Pandey were killed in a Canberra crash during the night. And for many years, only a paragraph of information was all that was available.. till his nephew decided to find out more..
The Indian Air Force, in association with Threye has launched its first Official Mobile Game App. "Guardians of the Sky"
Download it from
| Windows App Store | Apple iTunes | Google Play Store |
An aspiring teenager has a once in a life time opportunity to meet the legendary test pilot - Hanna Reitsch
Simon Watson's Iron Fist 2013 coverage with over 130 excellent photographs - Sukhois, Jaguars, Bisons, Helicopters - See the IAF in all its glory!
The Australian War Memorial Museum released a six minute long video of Vultee Vengeances of No.8 Squadron.
