Photo Credits: 250 sturdents visit INS Hansa at Dabolim
VASCO
About 250 students from various schools were invited to visit the Naval Aviation base at INS Hansa in Dabolim.
As part of the Navy Week Celebration – 2015, the Indian Navy had invited students from Stds VI to XII along with staff members from various schools in Goa, to familiarise them with the naval aviation rrm of their country.
The project was also aimed at kindling a desire in them to join the armed services.
The students and teaching staff were provided with a rare opportunity to get up close with various types of aircraft that the navy operates from the premier naval air station of the country, INS Hansa at Dabolim.
The visitors were shown around various aspects of aviation, including static display of aircraft. They were provided with an opportunity to get within touching distances of all types of actual operational aircraft.
The static display included Sea Harrier fighter aircraft (carrier borne aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capability), MIG 29 K fighter aircraft (the latest advanced carrier borne fighter aircraft included into the Navy), IL-38 (Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft), Dornier (Information Warfare aircraft), Kamov-31 (the Anti Submarine Warfare helicopter), Chetak (the Search And Rescue helicopter) and ALH (the Advance Light Helicopter).
Numerous queries from the children were answered by qualified naval personnel and students had the rare opportunity to view the MIG-29’s landing and taking off from the runway.
The students also had a close look at the manner in which actual air traffic is controlled at Dabolim airport from the ground by the Indian Navy. The visitors also had an unobstructed view of aircraft landing and taking off from the runway.
After some light refreshments, the visitors toured the Naval Aviation Museum where the history of naval aviation is preserved. The children had a look at vintage aircraft like ‘Sea Hawk’, ‘Alize’ that have rendered valuable service to the nation in the past.
Children also showed keen interest in the models of Aircraft Carrier Vikrant and Viraat that were on display.
