In pictures: 82nd Air Force Day celebrations

Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar attended the 82nd Air Force Day celebration at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. He is the first sports person to be made honourary Group Captain in the Indian Air Force. Sachin was conferred with the honorary title of Honorary Group Captain four years ago.

Tendulkar who attended the celebrations arrived with his wife Anjali Tendulkar and was clad in IAF uniform. Along with him and his wife, Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag were also present at the ceremony.

The IAF also displayed various aircrafts as a part of the celebration to mark the Air Force Day Parade cum Investiture Ceremony. The parade also included the IAF Air Warrior drill team displaying rifle handling skills alongwith the march and other things.

The Air Force Day was officially first observed on October 8, 1932.

From 2006, the annual Air Force Day Parade venue was shifted from Palam Airport to Hindon.

Hindon Air Force Station (Hindon AFS) (also Hindan) is an Indian Air Force base under the Western Air Command (WAC) and is the biggest and largest air base in Asia and 8th in the world. This base celebrates Air Force Day on 8 October. It is located near Ghaziabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh in the National Capital Region on the outskirts of Delhi, close to the Hindon River.

The IAF has 170,000 personnel and more than 1,400 aircraft. Here is a glimpse of the celebrations of 82nd Air Force Day:

82nd Air Force Day celebrations

Sarang helicopters perform during the 82nd Air Force Day celebrations at Hindon on Wednesday.

82nd Air Force Day celebrations

At the 82nd Air Force Day celebrations, the IAF Air Warrior drill team displaying rifle handling skills.

82nd Air Force Day celebrations

Fighter aircrafts present an air show during the 82nd Air Force Day function at Air Force Station Hindon in Ghaziabad on Wednesday.

82nd Air Force Day celebrations

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha shakes hands with Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag during the 82nd Air Force Day function at Air Force Station Hindon in Ghaziabad on Wednesday.

82nd Air Force Day celebrations

Sachin Tendulkar, cricket legend and honorary Group Captain in IAF and his wife Anjali with Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag during the 82nd Air Force Day function at Air Force Station Hindon in Ghaziabad on Wednesday.

82nd Air Force Day celebrations

Sachin Tendulkar, cricket legend and honorary Group Captain in IAF with Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan during the 82nd Air Force Day function at Air Force Station Hindon in Ghaziabad on Wednesday.

82nd Air Force Day celebrations

Sachin Tendulkar, cricket legend and honorary Group Captain in IAF with Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag during the 82nd Air Force Day function at Air Force Station Hindon in Ghaziabad on Wednesday.