NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force unveiled a new flag after 72 years. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary unveiled the new flag.

The previous flag had the Indian flag in the top left corner and a ring in the colours of the Indian flag on the right. The new flag now features the Indian Air Force insignia in the top right corner. Below this is a ring in the colours of the Indian flag. At the top is the Ashoka pillar with the text 'Satyameva Jayate' in Devanagari script and below it is a Himalayan hawk with outstretched wings.

A colourful parade and flypast took place at Bamrauli Air Force Station yesterday. More than a hundred planes and helicopters from the Air Force were mobilized. In a historic first, a woman officer led the parade. Group Captain Shalisa Dhami, the commander of a frontline unit in the Western sector achieved this milestone. Shalisa is the first woman officer to command a combat unit. Additionally, the 31-member Agniveer Vayu Women's Team, Garud Commandos and the recently integrated C-295 transport aircraft participated in the parade for the first time. This marked the C-295's debut in a public Air Force event. It was also the final appearance of the MiG-21 Bison originally scheduled for retirement in 2025 but advanced.

Four Air Force units namely the 16 Squadron, 142 Helicopter Unit, 901 Signal Unit and 3 Base Repair Depot were honoured with unit awards for their service excellence by the Chief of Air Force.

Following the parade, there was a display on the banks of the Triveni Sangama in Prayagraj in the afternoon featuring 108 Air Force aircraft including Dhruv helicopters from the Indian Army, P-8I aircraft from the Navy and the Suryakiran and Sarang display teams.

The anniversary of the formal incorporation of the Air Force into the Indian Armed Forces on October 8, 1932 is celebrated as Air Force Day.