March 23, 1976, Pakistan Day Flypast

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Dassault Mirage III.

197604_027 Mirage fly-past by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Dassault Mirage V.

197604_032 fly-past of 6 Mirage aircraft by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Shenyang F-6.

197604_031 fly-past of 6 MIG-19 Aircraft by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Martin B-57 Canberra.

197604_029 fly-past of 6 Canberra Bombers by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Cessna T-37 Tweet.

197604_028 Training Aircraft fly-past by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Shenyang FT-5.

197604_030 fly-past of 6 MIG Aircraft by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Pakistan Army Mil Mi-8 and Aerospatiale SA 330 helicopters.

197604_042 three Army Helicopters by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

Pakistan Army Mil Mi-8 and Aerospatiale SA 330 helicopters.

197604_042 three Army Helicopters by Bill Strong, on Flickr

Abbas

In 1976, there was only 1 Puma Helicopter in service with Pak Army. Tail no 1194 was a VVIP version inducted in 1974. I was used for VVIP transport (Presidents, PMs and visiting dignitaries etc) till 1989 when new IAR Puma helicopters (from Romania) were inducted. Somewhere in early 80s, its white VVP livery was changed to standard Army camouflage paint scheme to merge with rest of Army Puma fleet. 1194 was stripped of its VVIP interior and used in normal military transport roles, till early 2000s when it was withdrawn from service.

[Abbas Ali]

Very interesting history of that VIP Puma - thank you for sharing.

Some times 1970s photos of that VIP Puma in that same livery transporting then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto appear in news media.

Abbas