Air Warriors Reach RAF Waddington for Jt Exercise

New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) The first batch of Indian Air Warriors have reached Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington preparatory to exercise jointly with their British counterparts early next month.

According to information received here today, the first of the two IL-76's ferrying 50 Air Warriors -- comprising ground crew and technicians -- arrived at the RAF airbase around midday (1630 hrs IST) yesterday via Doha in Qatar and Tanagra in Greece.

''This is the first time-ever that an IL-76 has landed at any RAF airbase'', observed Wing Commander PS Arora, the Leader of the first IL-76.

Dark clouds loomed in the grey skies as the IAF's IL-76 landed at Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington, located 3 miles south of Lincoln Town in Eastern England.

''Its quite unlike the usual downpour during this part of the year,'' said RAF Sergeant Ashwin 'Azzy' Rana of the No. 8 Fighter Squadron from the RAF Waddington airbase -- the liaison person for the visiting IAF contingent in UK.

But a rainbow pattern was now set to emerge -- in the myriad pattern of VIBGYOR colours -- over UK airspace as the ten-day joint Indo-UK air exercise 'Indra Dhanush-07' gets underway from July 2 to 12 here.

The six Su-30 MKI's and two IL-78 MKI fuel-tankers -- together with the second IL-76 ferrying the remaining complement of the IAF personnel -- were slated to reach Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington later today.

Excitement and anticipation of the much-talked about Su-30 MKI's has brought-in most aviation aficionados and 'spotters', camping near the airbase perimeter fencing with cameras, awaiting their first glimpse of the IAF aircraft arriving for the first-time at the airbase.

RAF Waddington is a fully operational unit of the No. 2 Group within RAF Air Command and is home to the RAF's airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft.

The aircraft operated from the airbase include Boeing E-3D Sentry and Nimrod R1 -- the former constitutes the UK Component of the NATO Early Warning Force.

Apart from the excitement that the arrival of the Indian aircraft has generated, activities on a grand scale were afoot within the airbase in preparation for the Waddington International Air Show -- the largest of the RAF's official air shows.

The Su-30 MKI's were expected to draw large crowds at the air show when they are put up for static display on June 30 and July 1, preceding the exercise.

A fly-past by one IL-78 MKI Fuel-Tanker flanked by two Su-30 MKI's in patrol formation on either side is also expected to enthrall the airshow audience.

The venue has acquired a hard-earned reputation amongst visiting pilots and aircrew for its excellent hospitality, and is consequently always very well supported by aircraft from around the western world -- many not often seen in the United Kingdom.

UNI