Decommissioned aircraft reaches Shivamogga; to be on display at Freedom Park

The HAL HJT – 16 Kiran, a decommissioned Indian jet trainer aircraft, meant to be displayed in Shivamogga, reached the city on Monday. The aircraft will be on display at the Freedom Park, named after Allama Prabhu, a saint poet of the 12th century, in the city.

MP for Shivamogga B.Y. Raghavendra had requested Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh to sanction a decommissioned aircraft for the display in the city.

“The Minister has sanctioned the decommissioned aircraft, considering our request. We already have got a war tanker at the Freedom Park. The aircraft will be an added attraction, ahead of the 79th Independence Day celebrations,” he said.

Mr. Raghavendra said that the aircraft was manufactured by HAL in 1964, and it was decommissioned in 2023. “We have also requested a decommissioned warship. If the Defence Ministry sanctions a warship, we can display it in the backwaters of Sharavati at Sigandur in Sagar taluk, where a cable-stayed bridge was inaugurated recently. The warship will boost tourism in the area, besides educating the youth about the national defence system,” he added.