Starting with a commonwealth origin, many of these aircraft participated in WWII – stopping the march of the invincible Japanese over India, and after Independence defended the homeland on multiple occasions. Take for example the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane of 1930 origin, long used to train a generation of Indian pilots before they went on to fly Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires in battle. It is about time that these aircraft were put back where they belong – in the skies.
The IAF has partnered with a UK company – Reflight (http://www.reflight.co.uk/vintage_flight.html) to restore a few of these vintage aircraft and form the IAF Vintage Flight (IAF VF) Squadron. The IAF VF will appear to the public as an emblem for remembrance and inspiration. There are currently two aircraft – the Tiger Moth biplane and Harvard under renovation/refurbishment in the UK, with about 6 more to follow. The Tiger Moth has already had a major renovation done with the airframe and the engine restored and put to a test – as shown in the above video. The most important test – of making the machine fly in the air is expected to take place in another week. RAF Pilot Mike Edwards, OBE (Order of the British Empire – for services to the Crown) is the Chief Advisor and Architect of the IAF Vintage Flight – and is both the source of this video and sitting in the cockpit in the footage. He will be flying the machine on its first sortie after restoration.
Upon its successful flight, the Tiger Moth will be crated and shipped to India, and if all goes well – will make its first public appearance on the 80th IAF Day – 8th October 2012. Upon restoration of the rest of the vintage aircraft as well – the IAF could boast of having such precious gems like the only flying 1920s Westland Wapiti (the aircraft which heralded the birth of the IAF), the only flying Hawker Tempest of the WWII Era, a Hawker Hurricane which is a veteran of the famous Battle of Britain and which formed a part of the squadron commanded by Marshal of the Air Force (then Sqn Ldr) Arjan Singh, DFC WWII. It will also include vintage indigenous aircrafts like the HTS-2seater training aircraft, IAF Vampire and the very famous ‘Sabre Slayer’ – the British origin Gnat that later became indigenous into ‘Ajeet’. With proper care and support – these vintage machines will fly well into another century of their lives, and the IAF Vintage Flight will very well be the finest in the region – and amongst the best in the world continuing to inspire a future generation of aviators.
I am glad to know that someone has though of restoring these historic aircrafts. But, sad to know that we have no one in India that offers such a service. This is probably why our historic places, and artifacts are not the most well kept or managed when we look at the same in the west. A lot probably has to do with our people who do not take care of what they have. An example: Mother grew-up in a small town near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, called Viramgam. There is a historic lake on the out-skirts of the town named Munsar. The lake is surrounded by some one hundred or so temple like structures. Each temple had a bell and all bells were interconnected such that when the bells in the main temple were rung, all the bells in all temples also rung. My mother had actuall seen that until she was in her early teens. I am about 30 years younger than her, when I was about 7, I remember seeing all the little temples and the main temples and the holes were the bells and the rope used to go, but no bells or temple type activity. The lake was beginning to be used for laundry and for bathing local farmers' cattle. I last visited Munsar Lake when I was almost 17, most, if not all, the little temples were partially damaged or destroyed. And, if you visited that place in the morning, you may even see open defecation in the area surround the lake. To me this is a shame. Sometimes appreciation for the past is necessary in quest for the new. I am glad we are going to try an preserve what ever history that we can, but I hope this becomes a trend and will apply to all historic artifacts and not just a few note worthy items.
All outdated, no/poor avionics, metal frame .. Hmmmmmmm… Is it Jf-17?
Fantastic news — look forward to an active vintage squadron! The RAF has done some amazing stuff in this area and are rightly proud of their flying heritage.
I agree with the Anonymous commenter, restoring this historic aircraft is not a waste of money. The transformation of the vintage aircraft looks fantastic!