Retired IAF Officer Transforms Sangareddy Sand Mine Into Aviation And Drone Testing Hub

A retired Indian Air Force officer has transformed a former 23-acre silica and quartz sand mine in Mallepally village, Sangareddy, into a private airfield and drone testing hub. Squadron Leader PR Singh (retired) repurposed the abandoned mining land, which has been operational as Singh Aerofarm since 2018, to host microlight aircraft, gliders, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The 23-acre property originally belonged to Singh’s late father, AN Singh, who migrated from Uttar Pradesh to Hyderabad in the mid-1940s. He ran a silica and quartz sand-mining business on the site for four decades. After his death, mining operations stopped, leaving the land uneven and ravaged.

To realize his dream of owning an airfield, PR Singh overcame years of regulatory hurdles and undertook extensive earth-moving work to convert the mining site into a smooth grass airfield.

Following the Government of India’s approval of its drone policy, the space transitioned from a hobby venue into an aviation hub. The aerofarm now hosts microlights, gliders, paramotors, paragliders, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The facility has become a critical testing ground for drone startups from Telangana, Bengaluru, Chennai, and other parts of India. Because some commercial drones are too large to transport easily, they are assembled and tested directly on-site. Singh also rents out hangars to hobby fliers, students, and drone companies.

Currently, Singh owns four assembled aeroplanes that run on motor petrol and are powered by Rotax engines. A fifth aircraft, a vintage 1942 Boeing Stearman previously used by the US military to train pilots, is expected to arrive soon from the Philippines for assembly and testing.

On weekends, the farm attracts remote-control pilots, hobby fliers, and students from IITs and various engineering colleges who learn to assemble and fly aircraft under expert guidance. Recently, the farm has also begun hosting pre-wedding and engagement photo shoots.