<p>The Russian-made long-range TU-142 (Tupolev) maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy landed at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam for one last time on Saturday morning.<br /><br />The aircraft, also called ‘Flying Destroyer’, received an impressive welcome as it landed in Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, by a fly-past of three Chetak helicopters, two Kamov helicopters, two Dorniers, and one P-8I aircraft.<br /><br />The aircraft is on its way to becoming a museum next to submarine Kursura. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the TU-142.<br /><br />The special ceremony organised at INS Dega was attended by Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, the flag officer commanding-in-chief of the Eastern Naval Command, MPs, MLAs and a host of other civil dignitaries.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh had earlier requested the Ministry of Defence for allotment of one de-inducted TU-142 to convert it into a museum. The TU is likely to be dismantled and transported by road on trailers and re-assembled on the Beach Road near Kursura Submarine Museum.<br /><br />After having served the Indian Navy for 29 years, during which it accomplished 30,000 hours of accident-free flying, the TU-142 aircraft was given a befitting farewell on March 29, 2017, at INS Rajali, India’s premiere Naval Air Station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu.<br /><br />Over the years, the TU-142 has taken part in all major exercises and operations, including Operation Cactus in Maldives, Operation Vijay in 1998, Operation Parakram in 2002 and anti-piracy operations.</p>
<p>The Russian-made long-range TU-142 (Tupolev) maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy landed at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam for one last time on Saturday morning.<br /><br />The aircraft, also called ‘Flying Destroyer’, received an impressive welcome as it landed in Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, by a fly-past of three Chetak helicopters, two Kamov helicopters, two Dorniers, and one P-8I aircraft.<br /><br />The aircraft is on its way to becoming a museum next to submarine Kursura. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the TU-142.<br /><br />The special ceremony organised at INS Dega was attended by Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, the flag officer commanding-in-chief of the Eastern Naval Command, MPs, MLAs and a host of other civil dignitaries.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh had earlier requested the Ministry of Defence for allotment of one de-inducted TU-142 to convert it into a museum. The TU is likely to be dismantled and transported by road on trailers and re-assembled on the Beach Road near Kursura Submarine Museum.<br /><br />After having served the Indian Navy for 29 years, during which it accomplished 30,000 hours of accident-free flying, the TU-142 aircraft was given a befitting farewell on March 29, 2017, at INS Rajali, India’s premiere Naval Air Station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu.<br /><br />Over the years, the TU-142 has taken part in all major exercises and operations, including Operation Cactus in Maldives, Operation Vijay in 1998, Operation Parakram in 2002 and anti-piracy operations.</p>