Yelahanka Air Force Station, airport in India
Yelahanka Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force base located about 22 kilometers north of central Bengaluru. It features a main asphalt runway approximately 3,000 meters long, modern simulator facilities for pilot training, and hangars that house transport aircraft such as the Antonov An-32 and Dornier Do-228, along with Mi-8 helicopters.
The station was originally built by the British during World War II to support aircraft operations and initially housed Spitfires and Mosquitos. After India gained independence in 1947, the Indian Air Force took control and transformed it into a training center for transport pilots, with the site officially named Air Force Station Yelahanka in 1984.
The air station brings together military pilots and the public during Aero India, a major airshow held here every two years. Visitors can watch aircraft demonstrations and learn about India's aviation history through exhibitions and displays that showcase the country's transport and defense capabilities.
The station is located about 22 kilometers north of Bengaluru's city center and is most easily reached by car or public transportation. Visitors have the best opportunity to see the facility during Aero India, a major airshow held every two years when portions of the base open to the public for aircraft displays and flying demonstrations.
The station preserves remnants of historic aircraft, including a Devon fuselage and an Iskra aircraft installed as a memorial to fallen aircrew members. These relics tell stories of pilots who operated from here in earlier decades and offer visitors insight into overlooked chapters of aviation history at the base.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
