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Tourism Minister Mr. P. A. Mohamed Riyas has inaugurated the Flight Simulator Museum (Air Force Museum) set up by the Department of Tourism with the technical support of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Akkulam Tourist Village in Thiruvananthapuram district. The museum, which takes the visitors through a simulated flight experience and has several other features, was built at a cost of Rs 1.97 crores.
“This project will be beneficial not only for Akkulam and the capital district but also for entire Kerala Tourism. The museum gives an opportunity to know more about Indian Air Force. The aircraft-model museum and the flight engine will be a novel experience for visitors,” Mr. Riyas said.
Air Marshal J Chalapati, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command (SAC), IAF, said, “The idea of setting up such a museum was mooted in 2018 and we got the nod from the government to go ahead with it in 2019. Kerala Tourism, which funded the project, was instrumental in the speedy execution of the project and it was completed in record time.”
“We have two objectives in establishing the museum. The first is to make it highly attractive to visitors and the second is to motivate the youth of Kerala to join IAF. The flight simulator installed here will give a realistic experience to all,” he added.
The Air Force Museum project was conceived by Kerala Tourism in collaboration with Southern Air Command of IAF, whose headquarters is located close to the tourist village, to create awareness among the visitors about IAF and the importance of national security.
The museum was completed in two phases. In the first phase, around Rs 98 lakhs was spent for landscaping and creating flight model structures. In the second phase, administrative sanction for Rs 99 lakhs was given for constructing museum interior and other related works.
The two-floor aircraft-model museum has all the most modern facilities. A flight cockpit model with simulator and restroom facilities has been set up on the ground floor. Aimed at giving inspiration to visitors, the top floor has photographs depicting the glorious history of the IAF and an exhibition of IAF machinery.
Mr. V. R. Krishna Teja, Director, Kerala Tourism, said the development of Akkulam Tourist Village is an important project for Kerala Tourism.
