Gwalior Airport

During the outbreak of World War I in 1942, the Royal Air Force (RAF) built this airport as a training base for pilots, and it also played an important role in the war effort, contributing to the Allied victory. Gwalior Air Force Station, located at Maharajpur, has played a pivotal role in India's military aviation history. Initially constructed before World War II, it served as a Royal Air Force staging post. Post-independence, the Indian Air Force envisioned Gwalior as a hub for its heavy bomber fleet, particularly for No. 5 Squadron operating Liberators. However, infrastructural challenges and logistical constraints led to the relocation of bomber operations to Pune. In the subsequent decades, Gwalior evolved into a premier fighter base. The establishment of the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) at the station underscored its strategic importance. By the mid-1980s, Gwalior became synonymous with the Mirage-2000 fleet, housing multiple squadrons and serving as a center for advanced aerial combat training. ==Civil history==

In 1937, JRD Tata and Nevill Vincent piloted a Waco YQC-6 biplane VT-AIX on the first airmail service between Gwalior and Bombay. Civil Aviation was opened in 1958, marking the beginning of new commercial connectivity for Gwalior airport. The airport’s first commercial flight was an Indian Airlines Douglas DC3 from Delhi The second runway was built in February 2009 and became operational in October 2010. The airport’s infrastructure and facilities were upgraded during the 2000s. The construction of a new and larger terminal building at Gwalior airport, as well as the addition of some modern amenities was recently completed. ==Airlines and destinations==

• On 4 May 2021 a Beechcraft 250 belonging to the state of Madhya Pradesh crashed while landing at the airport. The three crew were hospitalized with minor injuries. The aircraft was carrying Remdesivir injections, which were undamaged. ==References==