As a gesture of honouring Diamond Jubilee Myanmar Air Force Day of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to improve the aviation capability of the State and Tatmadaw, a ceremony to commission aeroplanes and helicopters into services took place at the Flying Training Base in Meikhtila Station on 16 December. The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present at the event were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, retired Commanders-in-Chief (Air) and their wives, retired Commanders-in-Chief (Navy), Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife, Union level officials, Union ministers and their wives, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, members of War Veterans Organization, students and distinguished guests.
At the ceremony, a total of 15 PT-6 aeroplanes including MTX-1A aircraft manufactured on the test by Myanmar Air Force in formation flew over the pavilion to salute the Senior General.
The Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services stressed the following points at the ceremony:
- General Aung San on 13 July 1947 said that the air force was essential for safeguarding the sovereignty of the State, and then, a step was paced for formation of the air force.
- Before regaining independence in Myanmar, the Burma Air Force Act was enacted on 15 December 1947 to give birth to Myanmar Air Force.
- Since its establishment, the Myanmar Air Force has been conducting management, training and formation for serving fighting duties against internal insurgencies across the nation.
- In the year when the diamond jubilee falls, Myanmar Air Force possesses post-fourth generation multipurpose fighters as new strengths in the diamond jubilee anniversary.
- Various ethnic people are serving at the Myanmar Armed Forces, with the chances for participation of male and female.
- Since 1954, there were four female administrator officers at Myanmar Air Force. On 29 June 1956, Lt. Daw Hla Than alone drove a glider as demonstration to unveil the new history of female service personnel of Myanmar Air Force.
- Later, arrangements were made to give chance for females to serve State defence duties as of 2014 despite fading out of their role. Currently, those females are serving not only at administration sector but also as fighter pilots, transport plane pilots and helicopter pilots in various aviation sectors of Myanmar Air Force shouldering with the male pilots in the State defence duties.
- Excellent performances and victories were conferred on the officers and other ranks serving at Myanmar Air Force with brave sacrifices from its establishment to date. Those hero military personnel possessing noble prestige in sacrifice of life and limbs were awarded gallantry titles and medals by the State. Therefore, Thiha Thura title was conferred on one person, Thura title on 26 persons and gallantry medals on 117 persons respectively.
- During the 75-year period, new generation pilots of Myanmar Air Force is able to operate post-fourth generation multi-purpose fighters, strategic transport airplanes, modern fighters and helicopters in full swing. As part of conducting the technological research, Myanmar Air Force itself manufactured MTX-1A airplane and SR-1 UAV on test.
- Myanmar Air Force dutifully served the assignments in national defence duty, peace and tranquillity of the region, the prevalence of law and order, search and rescue measures, and humanitarian aids in respective sectors during the 75 years journey.
- If newly commissioned aircraft have been added to Myanmar Air Force, it will have the capability to conduct strategic military operations as well as counterattacks against submarines. So, operations can be conducted in surface, ground, above and underwater dimensions in full swing.
Then, the Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received commemorative small-scale aeroplanes and helicopters to mark the commissioning ceremony presented by Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung.
Later, flying demonstrations with salutation and aerobatics are followed in the ceremony:
- A transport helicopter, three attack helicopters, four different helicopters, a reconnaissance aricraft, two transport aircraft, three transport aircraft of different types, a jet fighter, three training jet fighters, a bomber, four light jet fighters, a multi-role jet fighter, a multi-role jet fighter and four interceptor aircraft in various formations saluted the Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General.
- Moreover, a light transport aircraft started flying with hoist skills, a transport aircraft demonstrating fire drills with the use of Bambi bucket and three training jet fighters releasing smoke trails in the ceremony.
- Multipurpose jet fighters saluted and performed skill demonstrations including manoeuvre in the sky. The post-fourth generation multipurpose fighter, Su-30 SME fighter, flew over the pavilion to salute and showed off its high-performance manoeuvre.
Afterward, the Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services released 75 birds to mark Diamond Jubilee Myanmar Air Force Day and sprinkled scented water on the commissioned aeroplanes and helicopters. The Senior General then spoke words of honour to the pilots in the flying demonstration and presented cash awards to them.
In the event of the 75th Diamond Jubilee anniversary of Myanmar Air Force, the post-fourth generation multipurpose fighter Su-30 SME fighter, FTC 2000G light multipurpose fighter, Ka-28 submarine destroyer helicopter, FT-7 and K-8W training jet fighter and light jet fighter, and Y-8 transport aircraft commissioned into service.
On 14 December also, the Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and party attended the ceremony to open the honorary exhibition to mark the commissioning ceremony as a gesture of honouring Diamond Jubilee Myanmar Air Force Day, domestic product shops and domestic foods of airbases and stations and formally opened these exhibitions and shops.
Continuously, the Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing together with attendees also viewed round booths of the exhibition showcasing uniforms of Myanmar Air Force, aviation histories and records, documentary photos, photos of those who served in Air Force, battle records, Avionic equipment using aeroplanes and helicopters, scale-models of modern jet fighters and equipment of fighters, arms and ammunition using in Air Force, and electronic machinery manufactured by Myanmar Air Force.
Later, the Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, wife and party visited souvenir shops, Myanmar traditional food shops and book shops of respective airbases, and shops selling personal goods manufactured by the military. They then cordially greeted officers, other ranks and their family members, it is learnt.
Source: MWD (16-12-2022)
- In the year when the diamond jubilee falls, Myanmar Air Force possesses post-fourth generation multipurpose fighters as new strengths in the diamond jubilee anniversary.
- Various ethnic people are serving at the Myanmar Armed Forces, with the chances for participation of male and female.
- Excellent performances and victories were conferred on the officers and other ranks serving at Myanmar Air Force with brave sacrifices from its establishment to date. Those hero military personnel possessing noble prestige in sacrifice of life and limbs were awarded gallantry titles and medals by the State. Therefore, Thiha Thura title was conferred on one person, Thura title on 26 persons and gallantry medals on 117 persons respectively.
- During the 75-year period, Myanmar Air Force itself manufactured MTX-1A airplane and SR-1 UAV on test as part of conducting the technological research.
- If newly commissioned aircraft have been added to Myanmar Air Force, it will have the capability to conduct strategic military operations as well as counterattacks against submarines. So, operations can be conducted in surface, ground, above and underwater dimensions in full swing.
- In the event of the 75th Diamond Jubilee anniversary of Myanmar Air Force, the post-fourth generation multi-role fighter Su-30 SME fighter, FTC 2000G light multipurpose fighter, Ka-28 submarine destroyer helicopter, FT-7 and K-8W training jet fighter and light jet fighter, and Y-8 transport aircraft commissioned into service.
- The Chairman of the SAC Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and party attended the ceremony to open the honorary exhibition to mark the commissioning ceremony as a gesture of honouring Diamond Jubilee Myanmar Air Force Day, domestic product shops and domestic foods of airbases and stations and formally opened these exhibitions and shops.