A Tiger Moth, recently rebuilt in the UK has been returned to India for its first public display. With fabric aeroplanes effectively extinct in India, the technical expertise to undertake the rebuilt has to be sought abroad, marking the beginning of a long-term programme which could include the Lysander and Wapiti.
”The Tiger Moth aircraft of the 1930 vintage was the cynosure of all eyes during a flypast at the Air Force Day parade at the Hindon air base on the outskirts of the capital on Monday. The aircraft stole the show in the absence of aerobatic display by the grounded Suryakiran planes and Sarang helicopter squad.
On the 80th anniversary of the IAF, the Tiger Moth biplane, the first resurrected aircraft of the vintage squadron of the force, was the only new addition to the flying display team for the event.
As soon as the yellow-coloured aircraft, which saw action during World War II, took off, it was greeted by a thunderous applause from the gathering which included families of air warriors and school children.”
By: Easy Tiger - 13th October 2012 at 11:04
The are multi million aircraft purchases going on with the Indian military at moment ! !!
That must be expensive:D
By: Seafuryfan - 13th October 2012 at 10:15
Thanks for posting this news Propstrike. An IAF Historic Flight expansion is an exciting prospect, and in line with the country’s economic expansion. Any further developments are keenly awaited – esecially a Wapiti.
By: David Burke - 13th October 2012 at 09:34
The are multi million aircraft purchases going on with the Indian military at moment ! Its hardly surprising that ‘gifts’ of historic aircraft are viewed very carefully!!
By: CoffeeBean - 13th October 2012 at 09:13
Lol, only the Indian MoD babus can come up with such ****ty regulations.
I bet they were upset that they didnt receive their standard aircraft transfer bribes.
—-
The tiger moth looks wonderful now.
By: Jagan - 13th October 2012 at 05:42
Any ideas of whats happening with the Indian Dak? It seems to have been sat at the same place at Kemble for a year or so?
The Dak was bought by a private party in India with the intent to ‘gift’ it to the Vintage Flight. The attempt to gift the aircraft was unfortunately thwarted by the Indian Ministry of Defence which suddenly started quoting the rule book saying that private parties cannot ‘gift’ aircraft to the Indian defence forces and thats that.
There seems to be a deeper malaise but I am not at liberty to quote anything other than the above..
By: avion ancien - 11th October 2012 at 15:20
……….that depends on which Tiger Moth – G-AOXN or G-CGYN – is that which has been restored for and gone to India. But don’t ask me – I haven’t been on the inside track!
By: AgCat - 11th October 2012 at 14:35
Looks like Lewis Aviation are claiming the glory:
http://www.lewisaviation.co.uk/gallery/tiger-moth-restoration.php
By: sopwith.7f1 - 11th October 2012 at 10:44
I wonder what effect the Indian climate will have on a fabric aircraft?
Do they need a cool dry hangar?
At least they shouldn’t be worried about moths. 😉
mmitch.
They should worry about termites & moths, I saw some moths that were supposed to have come from Asia, & they were BIG.
Bob T.
By: The Blue Max - 11th October 2012 at 09:56
In what way, may I ask?
You may but I may not answer 🙂 You can PM me if you wish.
By: mmitch - 11th October 2012 at 09:45
I wonder what effect the Indian climate will have on a fabric aircraft?
Do they need a cool dry hangar?
At least they shouldn’t be worried about moths. 😉
mmitch.
By: Propstrike - 10th October 2012 at 21:08
I think because the UK organisation was working on behalf on the IAF, on hopefully the first of a number of exciting projects, they would naturally be keen that all parties be happy with how things went.
It is obvious that there could be a number of reasons why publicity of the restoration was kept low-key, one of which could quite reasonably be to avoid spoiling the news value of the first public appearance.
Quite a number of forum contributors saw this project at various stages, but if the client says ‘keep it quiet’ that is what you do 😉
By: Keble Martin - 10th October 2012 at 21:08
I was involved in the rebuild
In what way, may I ask?
By: avion ancien - 10th October 2012 at 20:32
I made no suggestion that you or anyone else should post them. The post was prompted by the very absence of photographs and the fact that it seems that every other ‘first post-restoration flight’ is either the subject of extensive photojournalism or a whinge that the great unwashed have not received prior notice so that they can be there to take photographs to post!
By: The Blue Max - 10th October 2012 at 19:38
It would appear that Reflight Airworks were able to undertake the flight testing away from prying eyes – or is it just that no-one on this forum was around at the right time with a camera!
Not everything has to appear on this forum you know, as I was involved in the rebuild I have pictures of the first flights. They are however, at the request of the owners, not for the public domain, thats just the way it is 🙂
By: farnboroughrob - 10th October 2012 at 18:56
Any ideas of whats happening with the Indian Dak? It seems to have been sat at the same place at Kemble for a year or so?
By: SADSACK - 10th October 2012 at 18:18
re;
be a good chance to use the Wapiti as a pattern for a new one for the RAFM I assume the Hurricane rumors were just that?
By: Keble Martin - 10th October 2012 at 17:41
It would appear that Reflight Airworks were able to undertake the flight testing away from prying eyes – or is it just that no-one on this forum was around at the right time with a camera!
They were, but promises have to be kept!
KM
By: jbs - 10th October 2012 at 12:06
And this is how she looked when I saw her in the Vintage Flight Hangar during October 2008.
They have done a cracking job.
By: avion ancien - 10th October 2012 at 11:14
It would appear that Reflight Airworks were able to undertake the flight testing away from prying eyes – or is it just that no-one on this forum was around at the right time with a camera!
By: sopwith.7f1 - 10th October 2012 at 11:09
Can’t wait to see the Wapiti.
Bob T.
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October 10, 2012 at 9:30 am