New Delhi, January 17, 2008 (DefenceIndia News Service)

The history of Indian Air Force would be a treat to the people during this year's Republic Day parade when a tableau will show three significant milestones of the country's air power.

The tableau would show a model of wapiti aircraft, which was inducted in the Indian Air Force in 1932, to multi-role combat Sukhoi Fighter Jets procured by the IAF in early 2000.

A senior IAF official said the tableau would showcase the three important phases of the IAF's history -- wapiti (first), induction of women officers as helicopter pilots in 1990's and procurement of Sukhoi aircraft and the aerospace command. The IAF contingent would be lead by Wing Commander Alok Sharma.

The 1732 kg British-made wapiti was a conventional biplane with tandem open cockpits. It was also used during the start of the second world war. The vintage aircraft could seat two pilots.

The second phase would show women pilots standing next to helicopters as during this period women were roped into the IAF and served as helicopter pilots. A woman pilot would be leading this phase.

The third phase would show a model of Sukhoi and a globe and a satellite depicting the aerospace command and having an air superiority by the induction of the multi-role aircraft into the IAF, the official said.

The Navy would also be taking out a tableau this year which would showcase a model of INS Brahmaputra and INS Delhi besides some submarines. Marine commandos would salute President Pratibha Patil.

(Zee News)