No. 20 Squadron nicknamed as Lightnings is a fighter squadron. It is equipped with Sukhoi Su-30MKI and based at Lohegaon Air Force Station, Pune.
History The Lightnings stuck with tremendous impact during the December 1971 operations. A decade later, No. 20 Squadron were chosen to form the IAF's formation aerobatic team given the appellation of "Thunderbolts".
The IAF's most decorated squadron, No.20 Lightnings, was re-commissioned from its number plated status to operational status. Its pilots and crews were mainly drawn from the first Sukhoi squadron, No. 24 Squadron IAF 'Hunting Hawks,' and have considerable experience on the type. This squadron is considered one of the parent squadrons of the Sukhoi 30 MKI in the IAF. Also the No.20 Squadron played an important role in making the Flankers fully operational in the Indian Air Force.
Aircraft
Aircraft types operated by the squadron + Aircraft typeFromToAir base de Havilland Vampire FB52 1 June 1956 May 1959 AFS HalwaraHawker Hunter Mk 56 May 1959 1965 AFS Palam 1965 February 1968 AFS Hindon Hawker Hunter Mk 56A February 1968 July 1996 AFS Pathankot Mig-21 FL March 1996 1975 1975 January 1998 Mig-21 Bison August 2004 May 2005 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI January 2002 Present AFS Lohegaon
References