On display at IAF Museum Palam with the upper 30mm cannon ports permanently faired over. Designed by Dr. Kurt Tank, the Marut prototype first flew on 17 Jun 1961 as India's first indigenous jet fighter. It was fitted with a pair of RR Orpheus 703 engines, but they were underpowered for the aircraft. Inducted in the IAF in Apr 1967, the Marut equipped No. 10 Sqn "Winged Daggers," No. 220 Sqn "Desert Tigers" and No. 31 Sqn "Lions." The Marut was used in the recce and ground attack role in the 1971 war, achieving a victory over a PAF F-86 Sabre on 7 Dec 1971. The type was phased out in 1983.

On display at IAF Museum Palam. A total of 233 Tempest IIs of 452 built served with the RIAF and IAF from 1946-55, equipping No. 3 Sqn "Cobras," No. 8 Sqn "Eight Pursoots," No. 10 Sqn "Daggers," No. 2 Sqn "Flaming Arrows," No. 7 Sqn "Battle Axes," No. 9 Sqn "Gargoyles," No. 1 Sqn "Tigers" and No. 4 Sqn "Oorials" along with the Conversion and Training Unit (CTU) and Target Towing Flight. The 1947-48 Kashmir Operations proved to be the finest hour for IAF Tempests, its pilots receiving most of the gallantry awards given to the service for strafing, rocketing and bombing the Pakistani raiders.

This MiG-27UPG from No. 29 Sqn "Scorpions" is a recent addition to IAF Museum Palam. Last unit to receive the MiG-27ML, Scorpions stood down their MiG-27UPGs on 27 Dec 2019. Units to fly the MiG-27ML before the MiG-27UPG included No. 222 "Tigersharks," No. 9 "Wolfpack," No. 18 "Flying Bullets," No. 22 "Swifts," No. 2 "Winged Arrows" and No. 10 Sqn "Winged Daggers." The IAF was the largest Flogger operator outside the Soviet Union, previously having flown the MiG-23BN, MiG-23UB, MiG-23MF and MiG-27M. The MiG-27ML was used against Pakistani positions in 1999 during Op Safed Sagar.

Speed machine from No. 35 Sqn "Rapiers" on display at IAF Museum Palam. The aircraft was originally flown by No. 102 Sqn "Trisonics" from 1981 till the unit was numberplated in 2003 and its assets transferred to Rapiers, which flew the type till 2006 alongside its MiG-21Ms. The nose contained five vertical and oblique cameras and IR sensors. These aircraft provided yeoman service to the IAF in the recce role.

First noted in Dubai, 1977, although India starting receiving the first of several dozen An-12s in 1961

On display at IAF Museum Palam. This Ajeet wears the emblem of No. 2 Sqn "Winged Arrows," which flew the fighter from1983-91. Successor to the battle-tested Gnat across two Indo-Pak wars, the equally diminutive Ajeet had a 22 feet wingspan, making it hard to spot. The dimensions were unchanged but several much-needed improvements to the Gnat were incorporated, resulting in a slightly heavier empty weight of 2,360 kg. The gun camera mount can be seen under the nose. The wheel track is a mere 5 feet. With just 89 built or updated by HAL, the Ajeet was effective in the ground-attack role.

Painted in the colors of the Thunderbolts, this is a new addition to IAF Museum Palam. IAF's aerobatic team formed under Wg Cdr PS Brar that was a joy to watch in its day. Thunderbolts were from No. 20 Sqn. "Lightnings," which flew the Hunter from 1959-97. No. 20 Sqn. is one of the most highly decorated IAF fighter squadrons, notable for mounting long-distance raids from Pathankot to attack Peshawar and Kohat airfields with Hunters in Dec 1971.

On display at IAF Museum Palam. The Ajeet wears the emblem of No. 2 Sqn. "Winged Arrows," which operated the type from 1983-91. Drop tanks are fitted to the external pylons. Successor to the remarkable Gnat, the Ajeet had a slightly heavier empty weight at 2,360 kg. Just 89 were built or updated by HAL.

On display at IAF Museum Palam. This workhorse of the IAF was inducted in No. 12 Sqn "Yaks" in Jan 1954 to replace Dakotas. Known as the "Packet" in Indian service, the aircraft was vital in supporting the Indian Army in the Himalayas. No. 19 and 48 Sqn "Camels" also flew the type. A J34 jet engine was fitted in a dorsal pod to increase safety margins, later changed to an Orpheus. A Packet flown by S/L CKS Raje set a world record for the world's highest landing when 32 fully equipped troops were ferried to DBO on 23 July 1962. The Packet was used in the large 1971 Tangail paradrop.

On display at IAF Museum Palam. The izdeliye 23-11B or izdeliye 2B MF export version was much less capable than domestic Soviet versions. The type was inducted in IAF service with No. 223 Sqn in 1982, followed by 224 Sqn "Warlords" till phased out in March 2007.

On display at IAF Museum Palam. This Spitfire was delivered twice to the IAF, first arriving in Feb. 1946 as SM986 and was delivered to No. 320 MU, returning to the UK in June 1947. It was sold back to the IAF, arriving in Dec. 1949 and was issued serial number HS986, perhaps the only IAF Spitfire to retain the last three digits of its RAF serial. It was transferred from No. 1 BRD to No. 15 Sqn. in May 1952, suffered a landing accident and went back to No. 1 BRD. Originally it had an all-silver finish.

On display at IAF Museum Palam. The HPT-32 first flew on 6 Jan 1977. Intended as a replacement for the HT-2 basic trainer, the HPT-32 had a record of accidents due to engine cuts leading to a number of fatalities, which led the IAF to ground the aircraft in 2009. It was simple to fly but difficult to master, with stall turns and barrel rolls being tricky.

Sabre Killer on display at IAF Museum Palam. It was notable for its small size and impressive performance, especially the rate of climb. The first Gnat unit was No. 23 Sqn. "Panthers", which flew the type from Feb 1960 to Jan 1978, downing a PAF F-86 on 3 Sep 1965 as IAF'S first jet kill. Other units to fly the type were No. 2 Sqn. "Winged Arrows", 9 "Wolfpack", 15 "Flying Lances", 18 "Flying Bullets", 21 "Ankush", 22 "Swifts" and 24 "Hawks". Behind the aircraft is the photo of Fg Offr Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC, killed in action in the 1971 Indo-Pak War while flying a Gnat.

On display at IAF Museum Palam with the emblem of No. 8 Sqn "Eight Pursoots." Inducted into the IAF in Apr 1963, the MiG-21F-13 or Type 74 equipped No. 28 Sqn "First Supersonics" under Wg Cdr Dilbagh Singh, followed by the PF and licence-built FL or Type 77 with R2L radar. The FL was used to good effect in the 1971 Indo-Pak War on both fronts. In the west, FLs from No. 47 Sqn "Black Archers" and No. 29 Sqn "Scorpions" shot down four PAF F-104s without loss, besting the Starfighter. The last FLs were retired in Dec 2013. The 57° wing sweep is visible with a span of 7.15 m and area of 23.04 m².

Cockpit under the windshield coating, with the navigator's station visible. The An-12 was inducted into the IAF on 01 Mar 1961. It was operated by No. 44 Sqn. "Himalayan Geese" and No. 25 Sqn. "Himalayan Eagles". The type was vital in moving personnel, ammunition, supplies and livestock between Chandigarh and J&K, providing an air bridge to the roof of the world. These aircraft were used in the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971. The An-12 was phased out on 31 May 1993.

On display at IAF Museum Palam with the cowling fairings painted red. This would disappear on subsequent paint jobs. One of the most important aircraft in the IAF and RIAF inventory that equipped eight squadrons from 1942 to 1945, the Hurricane played a major part in the Arakan Campaign.

Four thousand pound 'cookie' in front of the IAF Museum's Canberra that caused some headaches when dropped on Pakistani airfields during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars. Canberras of No. 5 Sqn. "Tuskers", No. 16 Sqn. "Cobras", No. 35 Sqn. "Rapiers" and the Jet Bomber Conversion Unit (JBCU) built their reputation on this formidable aircraft during both wars.

Allocated USAF serial 43-4646 for delivery to India as IK450 under MDAP. Preserved at the Indian Air Force Museum by 1988.