The An-32 is named Sutlej in Indian service, after the Sutlej River.

Seen here about to depart at about 0700 from Waddington for the long flight back to India following the exercise.

Crowds have gathered along the runway and on the hillside to watch the Suryakiran display.

A really rare gem, part of the fantastic Musée de l'Epopée et de l'Industrie Aéronautique, the Bétrancourt Collection. It was very difficult to photograph in the tightly packed hangar and for this the tripod was on the wing of a Fouga Magister that can just be seen at the bottom

A Suryakiran pilot is about to land his Kiran on Rwy 03.

A Marut in Germany. This Indian jet fighter was designed by Kurt Tank, of Fw 190 fame.

Making an extremely rare appearance at LHR, this 737 was delivered to Indian Airlines as VT-EHX in Aug 1983 but was taken over by the Air Force just 6 months later

The Indian Air Force sent its Suryakiran aerial display team to the LIMA 2007 show.

Taken on charge by the RAF in 1.54 as WE191, this Canberra went back to BAe in 2.78 to be prepared for the Indian AF, but was never delivered. The fuselage is now preserved at the Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, while the starboard wing was fitted to Canberra T.17 WH665 dumped at Filton in 1988 (was due to be sunk as a diving wreck). Others in this view from left are T.4 WT488 (b/u Dunsfold 99), TT.18 WJ721 (nose pres. Scotland) and probably TT.18 WE122 (to FRADU, nose in Suffolk) at right

Great to see an An-32, great to see this raw transport plane of the Indian air force.

The only time I got to see an Indian Connie... but I'm not complaining, what a fine sight! First delivered to Air India as VT-DJW "Rani of Bijapur" in 7.58; passed to the Air Force in 4.62 after freighter conversion. The Indian military was forced to retire its Constellations when Air India would no longer perform maintenance on them due to lack of spares; BG579 made the final flight on 31.3.84. BG583 was wfu at Pune in 1983 and apparently moved to Agra for storage for the IAF Museum. It survived there until at least late 1998, but its current status is unclear.

About 40 Flying Boxcars remained in service with the Indian AF till the early 80s. This one, with Hindustan-built BS Orpheus jet booster pod for better performance at high-altitude locations, was ex 53-4646. One of two Iskras displayed is visible at the right

Seen making an early morning departure from Waddington for the long flight back to India following the exercise