Images - Pakistan Air Force in the Mirror of History.

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Airship mooring mast and hangar (Kala Chapra), Karachi, in the early 1940's.

North America B-25s and other Allied aircraft at Karachi’s airport during World War II. The site developed around the huge hangar built for British imperial airships that never arrived. Civil aircraft moved here from nearby RAF Drigh Road (now PAF Faisal) during the 1930's.

Known locally as the "Kala Chapra" or "Black Shed," this enormous structure constructed in the late 1920's was considered one of the largest structures in the British Empire. It was meant to service the German Zeppelins, fueled by hydrogen, that were in vogue at the time, and Karachi was the westernmost station for British India.

It was 850 feet long and about 180 feet high and wide. Unfortunately, one of the first flights from Britain to Karachi crashed in 1930, and in 1952 this structure was taken down and the steel used for scrap.

 

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Usman
@usman_cph

The Mirage-2000E was also evaluated during February 1992 and rejected because of two main reasons. The first being that it did not allow the technical jump (air-to-air performance) that PAF wanted and the second being too high a cost for a limited offer of only 20 aircraft.

 

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After the Rann of Kutch dispute in April 1965, to avoid escalation, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) only undertook combat air patrols (CAP) well on its side of the border. During this period PAF made two interceptions of intruding IAF aircraft.

The first interception on 24 June involved an armed IAF Ouragan (known as Toofani in IAF service) believed to be on a reconnaissance flight, where the pilot seems to have become disoriented and ended up almost 50 miles inside Pakistan.

The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Rana Lal Chand Sidda of 51 Auxiliary Squadron, had taken off from IAF Jamnagar and after seeing the warning pass made by the two Sabres*, which were scrambled from Mauripur, decided to lower his undercarriage and land at an open field, damaging the undercarriage in the process.

The pilot was taken prisoner and was released as a goodwill gesture on 14 August (Independence Day).

 

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During the Shah's time, the Pakistan Air Force and Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) used to conduct regular armament competitions. Th Shah was very fond of the PAF. The IIAF would show up with their F-5s, and on alternate years, PAF would take their jets to Iran.

 

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PAF pilots while on deputation with Syrian Airforce at Al-Dumayr air base during 1973.

L-to-R: Wg Cdre Yousaf Ali Khan (IAF Gnat kill during 65 war), Flt Lt's Hameed Malik, Nasir Butt and Aftab Raja.

The aircraft is a Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) MiG-21MF.

Photo courtesy of Aftab Raja.