ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft was declared runner-up in the prestigious Royal International Air Tattoo Show 2018 in the UK, PAF said in a statement on Sunday.

“It was a moment of joy for the PAF when an aesthetically painted PAF C-130 was honored out of 300 aircraft in this mega show,” the statement added.

Pakistani Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan was also at the venue to witness the static display of the squadron’s Hercules.

He congratulated the PAF contingent for their excellent performance and raising the country’s flag high in the mega event.

He said he hoped it would go a long way in projecting the soft image of the country across the world. “PAF C-130 stole the show with its attractive and artistically painted color scheme,” the Air Chief Marshal added.

The participating military and civilian aircraft included USAF F-35A, French Air Force Rafale C, German Air Force Tornado IDS and RAF Red Arrows on display at the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Earlier, the air chief attended Chief of the Air Staff’s Air Power Conference with a theme “Building the Next Generation Air Force.”

Senior government ministers, high-ranking officials and up to 60 international air chiefs from across the world attended the Air Power Conference.

“Presently, the air chief is on an official visit to the UK, on the invitation of Royal Air Force, to further boost the strong ties between two great forces,” PAF said in a statement.