New Delhi: A fully-refurbished World War II-era Dakota is all set to be flown to India in March, to become a proud possession of the IAF. The plane, which underwent a six-year-long restoration in the UK, will join the vintage fleet at the Hindon Air Base in Uttar Pradesh.
The aircraft is a gift from Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekar to the India Air Force. At a function, the Bengaluru MP ceremonially handed over the papers and deeds to Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.
Legendary Aircraft #Dakota being gifted to #IAF : The CAS ACM BS Dhanoa, along with VCAS Air Mshl SB Deo, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament & Air Cmde MK Chandrasekhar (Retd) during the gift deed signing ceremony at AkashOffrsMess, NewDelhi, today. pic.twitter.com/jrvlNAh4Vu
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) February 13, 2018
The Dakota, christened ‘Parashurama’, will bear the tail number VP 905, the same as the first such aircraft in the Indian service that transported the troops in 1947 during the Kashmir conflict.
Chandrasekar’s gift, will make it the first vintage Dakota for the IAF, which currently, has a Tiger Moth and a Harvard aircraft stationed at the Hindon Air Base.
According to a short film screened at the function, the aircraft was acquired from scrap and underwent six years of painstaking restoration in the UK, and the IAF had technically accepted it late last month.
Following are some of the pictures of the Dakota (courtesy Livefist, which reports on defence and aerospace):
DC-3 Dakota VP-905 now officially beyongs to the Indian Air Force! Papers & pictures from the gifting ceremony today with IAF Chief ACM Dhanoa, @Rajeev_MP & his father Air Cmde Chandrasekhar (Retd.) pic.twitter.com/uYkytPooOS
— Livefist (@livefist) February 13, 2018
Beauty!
We’ve just got the first video of the Indian Air Force’s new DC-3 Dakota in flight. Video & report: https://t.co/G8DG4j80Ml pic.twitter.com/wmxJPLBKSq— Livefist (@livefist) February 13, 2018
Splendid shot of the restored DC-3 Dakota that becomes Indian Air Force property this week, courtesy @Rajeev_MP. Photographed here at Coventry, UK, during a recent IAF inspection. (Our report, ICYMI: https://t.co/CGMBIKrKV9) pic.twitter.com/NXjqGV992S
— Livefist (@livefist) February 12, 2018
Hailing the qualities of the aircraft, the Chief of Air Staff, said, “They were introduced in the 1930s… As part of the 12th Squadron of the then Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF), Dakotas were the main workhorse in Ladakh and Northeast region. And, they intervened in time to save the Valley of Kashmir (in 1947).”
“Military historian Pushpindar Singh had said that Dakota is the reason why Poonch is still with us. They helped in hastening the fall of Dhaka and liberation of Bangladesh. And, in 2014, we had given a shell on the Dakota to the Bangladesh Air Force,” Dhanoa added, as per PTI.
The IAF has helped the MP in getting the aircraft registered and in upgrade of the navigation system.
“Since it has to fly through multiple foreign airspace, we helped them in getting permission,” the IAF chief said.
Chandrasekhar’s father Air Commodore (retd) MK Chandrasekhar, who was present at the function, was a Dakota pilot in the IAF, and the MP said, “the seeds were sown perhaps very young. My father is 84 now. And, I grew up seeing him flying Dakota. So, my passion for planes is natural. And, it is on behalf of my father that this gift is being made to the IAF, in dedication to the air warriors. And, I hope it will inspire future air warriors.”
(With PTI inputs)
Source: Zee News