The first of the two IL-76′s ferrying 50 IAF air warriors, comprising ground crew and technicians Of the Indian Air Force arrived at the RAF airbase around midday (1630 hrs IST) 27 June, 2007.

The planes flew via Doha in Qatar and Tanagra in Greece. “This is the first time-ever that an IL-76 has landed at any RAF airbase”, informed Wing Commander PS Arora, the Leader of the first IL-76 that landed at RAF Waddington yesterday.

The ten-day joint Indo-UK air exercise – ‘Indra Dhanush-07′, gets underway from July 2 to 12.

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 arrived on 28 June 2007.

Three Su-30 MKI’s will participate in the Waddington International Air Show. They will be 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 on the cards.