Sulur Air Force Base operated by the Indian Air Force is located at Kangayampalayam village near Sulur. This Air base was established in the year 1940 by RN of the then British Raj. This was a strategic base during World War II for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm: Royal Navy Air Squadron(RNAS). This base was used as repair base for Southeast Asian planes. The Sulur Airbase which was used by the British, was burned down on 26 August 1942 during the 1942 August Quit India Movement to overthrow the British empire from Indian soil. In 1943, the Indian Royal Airforce came to Sulur, which later got shifted to Cochin in 1949. After gaining independence, the Indian Navy established INAS Hansa at this place to operate the Sea Hawks. After the liberation of Goa, INAS Hansa shifted to Dabolim there and Sulur was taken over by the Air Force. In 1955, the 5BRD (No 5, Base Repair Depot) of Indian Air Force was planned and it started functioning in 1959. For some time this airbase was also used for civil aviation. Since 14 January 1984 this base has been a part of the Indian Air Force. The runway was used for racing motorcycle and cars in the 1960s.