No. 126 Helicopter Flight, IAF: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}

'''No. 126 Helicopter Flight (Featherweights)''' is a helicopter squadron and is equipped with [[Mil Mi-26]] and based at [[Chandigarh Air Force Station]].<ref name=BRakshak>{{cite web|title=Squadrons and Helicopter Units|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/292-Squadrons.html|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=4 December 2022}}</ref> It received the first four [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook]] in service on 25 March 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Air Force gets more wings: Lethal Chinook copters to be formally inducted in IAF on Monday|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/indian-air-force-gets-more-wings-lethal-chinooks-copters-to-be-formally-inducted-in-iaf-on-monday/1524280/|website=Financial EXpress|date=22 March 2019|author= Huma Siddiqui |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref>

Only four Mi-26s served with this Helicopter Flight: serial numbers Z2896, Z2897, Z3075 and Z3076. Only three aircraft are presently in the inventory. On 14 December 2010, an [[Indian Air Force]] Mi-26 (serial number Z3076) crashed seconds after taking off from [[Jammu Airport]], injuring all nine passengers. The aircraft fell from an altitude of about {{convert|50|ft|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-15/india/28248052_1_iaf-chopper-crashes-technical-snag-helicopter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104125905/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-15/india/28248052_1_iaf-chopper-crashes-technical-snag-helicopter |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title= IAF chopper crashes in Jammu, 9 injured |date= 15 December 2022}}</ref> The Indian Institute of Flight Safety released an investigation report that stated improper fastening of the truck inside caused an imbalance of the helicopter and led to the crash. The Mi-26 had been carrying machines from [[Konkan Railway]] to [[Jammu–Baramulla line]] project.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/iaf-helicopter-crashes-in-jammu-all-safe-72487 "IAF helicopter crashes in Jammu, all safe"]. ''NDTV'', 14 December 2010. Retrieved: 23 July 2012.</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120711085157/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=704985 "IAF Chopper Crashes, Leaves 9 Injured"]. ''Outlook India'', 14 December 2010. Retrieved: 23 July 2012.</ref>

Two of the remaining three Mi-26s were grounded on completion of their total technical life in September 2013 and August 2014, respectively; a proposal of having the helicopters shipped to the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant for refurbishment has not been approved by the Ministry of Defence for over three years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/87192/refurbishment-of-iaf-s-mi-26-helicopters-faces-delay |title=Refurbishment of IAF's Mi-26 helicopters faces delay |author=Rahul Bedi |website=Jane's  |date=13 March 2019 |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref>