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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 9, 2014 17:43:21 GMT 12
Had a few hours spare here in Bangalore, so headed to the Hindustan Aerospace Museum out at the old airport. Nice garden surroundings and some interesting aircraft. HAL started early in the war and has long been the Govt Dept which aims to make India self sufficient in things aeronautical. Few photos below: Bit on the history of HAL  Canberra  Devon minus canopy  Pushpak - kinda interesting looking machine  Bit of a Kiwi connection - with Big Norm visiting in 1973 - believe the Marut in the photo was designed by Kurt Tank of FW fame  Gnat Line - lovely aircraft - also built as the Indian version the Ajeet  Old Photo of Tempests  ...and of course compulsory photo of cows and cool Royal Enfield bikes   Cheers Hvd1041 |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2014 18:16:26 GMT 12
Cool stuff John!!
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Post by baz62 on Mar 9, 2014 18:22:17 GMT 12
Nice photos John. I don't suppose that Canberra was once one of ours? Nice to see you making friends with the local wildlife!  |
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Post by nuuumannn on Mar 9, 2014 18:54:46 GMT 12
Terrific, John. Great to see; you do go to some interesting places.
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Post by davidd on Mar 10, 2014 9:11:12 GMT 12
John,
Really enjoyed the photos, great one of the Tempest IIs, and the Ajeets (or are they Gnats?) And is that really an assembly line? - they all look complete, which could indicate they are simply in storage. Also excellent shot of the bovine representative and the 1950s era (brand new?) bike.
David D
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 11, 2014 0:40:47 GMT 12
Hello - no, don't think the Canberra has any NZ connection. I've always been told the ex-RNZAF ones were destroyed on the ground in the 1971 Indo-Pak war - is that true anyone ? Canberra servicing  Couple more - the well known Liberator, now in the UK  Think the last ones shown were Gnats - these are Ageets ( but yes, both photos do have that staged sort of look to them )  Model of an Indian Satellite - parts of which are made in the 'shed' next to us  Sea King  ..and just for us motorbike fans - another Bullet - this one is a 'Classic Desert Storm'  Cheers Hvd1041 |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 11, 2014 8:20:03 GMT 12
Hello - no, don't think the Canberra has any NZ connection. I've always been told the ex-RNZAF ones were destroyed on the ground in the 1971 Indo-Pak war I have spent a little time trying to track down the IAF end of the Canberra saga. Even enquiries at Indian aviation forums bought very little info to light. So far I have: NZ6102 became IAF F1183 NZ6103 became IAF F1184 NZ6105 became IAF F1185 NZ6107 became IAF F1186 NZ6108 became IAF F1187 NZ6109 became IAF F1188 - possible on display at Pune NZ6110 became IAF F1189 NZ6111 became IAF F1190 NZ6151 became IAF Q1191 NZ6152 became IAF Q1192 The two trainers had quite a long service life, until 1989. So your IF978 shown above appears to have no kiwi connection. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 11, 2014 9:31:23 GMT 12
It's a neat idea for the aircraft that are outdoors to have little gardens and tidy lawns around them. Most outdoor aircraft museums have long grass.
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Post by beagle on Mar 11, 2014 9:39:30 GMT 12
Nice shots mate, always good to see something from overseas like that.
Good to see BIF NORM. They were talking about him on the radio the other day.
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Post by corsair5517 on Mar 11, 2014 22:08:11 GMT 12
Royal Enfield Bullet.... Friend of mine raced one in Canterbury in the late 80s; truly awful motorcycle! :-)
Saw one parked in a garage in Jersey that looked brand spanking with the legend "Electric start" on the side covers and had a yarn with the owner who said it was Indian. it looked very nice, I have to say: i wonder if they - the Indians - have the Interceptor as well as the Bullet?! i always fancied an Interceptor....
Also very nice indeed to see museums outside of the usual suspects, eh: thanks for posting!,
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 11, 2014 23:29:48 GMT 12
Enfields awful ? - no, they are a great trip back to a slower age. Rode one around Ragistan a few years back - brilliant fun! ... But I would never be tempted to 'race' one. Latest ones have fuel injection throttle bodies, electronic ignition, electric start - about 30 Hp from 500cc Great machines - cost about NZD 3000 new Cheers Hvd1041 |
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 14, 2014 22:04:53 GMT 12
Just checked this photo of the Canberra in the IAF Museum in Delhi, it's not an RNZAF one either  This Museum in Delhi's vast Palam IAF Base, on the other side of the International Airport, has some interesting aircraft ( am sure we had a thread on it some years back ) - but a couple of recent photos Tempest II - neat machine ( even if the tyres are flat )  Liberator B-24  Arming Tempests 1948  Interesting shot here with an A-4 model, I think Douglas tried to sell Skyhawks to India at one stage  ...and in case you thought of bribing anyone at the Airforce Base, a lot of these signs !?!  Cheers Hvd1041 |
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Post by baz62 on Mar 15, 2014 10:59:11 GMT 12
Good to see you hard at work supplying us with neat photos John. Keep it up! |
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 15, 2014 11:56:13 GMT 12
As the T-Shirt should say, ' don't tell my boss I'm an old aircraft nut, he thinks I spend all my spare time playing piano in a w-hore house' Cheers Hvd1041 PS - man I hope my boss doesn't read this |
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Post by baronbeeza on Mar 15, 2014 12:05:07 GMT 12
I will come to the rescue John,  |
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Post by pjw4118 on Mar 15, 2014 14:28:58 GMT 12
Great to see photos from India. Theres a heap of aviation there we dont really think about , Europe , USA sure ,,India nah.
Itsprobably still hiding some gems of aircraft ,,hopefully not buried in boxes.
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Post by jthomso1 on Mar 27, 2014 18:22:10 GMT 12
harvard1041, thanks for posting the photo's. I am normally a sleep before I get this far down the index list.. Enjoyed the Tempest one especially.
If anyone is moving around Asia I would recommend the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Don Muang, Bangkok. A diverse collection and one of the quietest museums around, very easy to move around and up close.
For what's it worth my money is on the Jersey Cow to win the race. I recall the Enfield factory is in Chennai, and has a very bright MD that is turning the company around and into the 21st Century.
Cheers
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Post by harvard1041 on May 22, 2014 4:33:06 GMT 12
How about this for a 'find' in a junk pile out the back. s430.photobucket.com/user/Hvd1041/media/imagejpg1_zps34249d9e.jpg.html]  [/URL] |
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Post by komata on May 22, 2014 8:24:09 GMT 12
Harvard1041
Thank you for sharing your 'trip' with us, and for finding that Bf 109 fuselage as an added bonus. I'm surprised that no 'Brit (or British aviation preservation group) has 'found and repatriated' it and that it should be residing in farthest India. FWIW, the 'frame doesn't seem to appear on the Museum's current list of holdings, so perhaps no-one realises its importance. No doubt someone amongst the membership will be able to provide 'chapter and verse' for it and tell us when it was 'exported'. IMHO, a very good 'find' on your part. Again, thanks.
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Post by harvard1041 on May 22, 2014 10:06:42 GMT 12
Actually I didn't find it - and it's no longer there - photo is a couple of years old. Was just showing what has been 'found'. ... Sorry for the confusion. But keeping my eyes open |
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