India to Have New Aerospace Museum

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) Aiming to inform the public about the rich Indian heritage of exploits in the skies, the Indian Air Force has launched construction of a new Aerospace Museum -- the foundation stone of which was laid here today by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi.

The site -- near the Domestic terminus of Indira Gandhi International Airport -- would have a history section, section of aviation legends, history of IAF Squadrons, major campaigns and battles fought by IAF, IAF's peace time role and the like in the indoor section. Also having a souvenir shop, the new facility is expected to develop into a tourist attraction, according to an official spokesperson.

Meant not only to preserve the glorious tradition of the Indian Air Force but also to create awareness in the general public about India's rich Aerospace heritage, the new Aerospace Museum will seek to improve upon the displays already available at the IAF Museum located near the Technical Area of Air Force Station Palam.

To be developed as a state-of-art museum designed with latest concepts and design, it will also seek to preserve the history for posterity, the spokesperson said.

Representatives and consultants from various world-renowned museums, including Hyderabad's Salarjung Museum and the Victoria Museum at Kolkata, were consulted.

The Indian Air Force then decided to procure more space and to shift to a place more accessible by masses.

Spread over some 17 hectares, the new Aerospace Museum would have two main types of displays -- indoor and outdoor.

The outdoor displays would have aircraft parked or hung in flying attitude with accompanying murals depicting the era and atmosphere of their time of operation.

A separate Children's Area would also be created where children could enter the cockpits of display aircraft and familiarise themselves with aircraft control and instruments. A video arcade would also be created.

UNI DG VA PM1855