Thanjavur Air Force Station

Thanjavur Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is located in Thanjavur (also known as Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to a squadron of the IAF's Sukhoi Su-30 MKI super-manoeuvrable fighter aircraft - the first IAF fighter squadron in Tamil Nadu. The facility was expected to start functioning by 2012. However, the schedule was delayed and the airbase was inaugurated on 27 May 2013 by then Defence Minister A. K. Antony.HistoryThe airfield was used by the Royal Air force during World War II as a base for its Lockheed Hudson, Vickers Wellington, Hawker Hurricane, and P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. After the war the airfield was handed over to the government for civilian use and eventually came under the jusrisdiction of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). In the early '90s, Thanjavur was connected with Chennai via the Vayudoot Flight Service, which was stopped due to poor patronage. The IAF took over the airfield in March 1990. During the heavy floods in Tamil Nadu in November 2008, IAF helicopters operating from Thanjavur dropped 15,000 kg of relief materials to the affected areas.