Indian Air Force Vintage Display Team Forming

[bdk]

Now they have an airworthy Harvard IIB to add to the Tiger Moth they have already received. The additional aircraft they want include a Hurricane, a Spitfire, a Tempest, and a Lysander.

http://www.livefistdefence.com/2014/07/ ... rvard.html



More articles:

http://www.janes.com/article/41255/sixt ... cial-cargo

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/in ... plane.html

When a brand new C-17 III Globemaster super heavy transport aircraft lands at Delhi's Palam airport from the US to join the IAF fleet next week, it will be carrying in its belly a vintage Harvard trainer that will fly in the Indian skies again after more than four decades.

The Harvard, a design that dates back to the 1930s, is being brought to India after being restored in Britain. It is the second vintage IAF aircraft to be restored after a Tiger Moth of 1930s vintage that has been flying regularly at air events.

India has a rich aviation heritage and restoration of the Tiger Moth and Harvard is part of the IAF's efforts to preserve these magnificent flying machines.

The delivery of the Harvard will mark the culmination of the first phase of a vintage aircraft restoration programme being undertaken with the help of Britain-based Re-Flight. Six more aircraft will follow this.

The second phase will see a Hurricane, a Spitfire, a Lysander and a Tempest being brought back to life. In the final phase, a Wapiti, the aircraft with which the IAF was born, will be restored.

The 15-year-old programme, which is running behind schedule, was launched in 2008. The first steps towards restoration started in India, where the aircraft to be restored were identified. The task was finally assigned to the British company.

The Tiger Moth and Harvard (HT-291) were the easiest and cheapest to restore. While restoring the Tiger Moth cost around Rs.1 crore, the budget for the Harvard was Rs.2.5 crore.

The delivery of the Harvard has itself become an event as the aircraft is being flown in the C-17 super heavy transporter being delivered by Boeing to the IAF. It is the sixth of the 10 C-17s ordered by India under a $4.17-billion contract. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will receive the aircraft at Palam airport on July 28.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/supe ... 73978.html

[Warbird Kid]

Fascinating. Well I would assume that the plan is to take the examples that are currently on display in the Indian Air Force Museum and restore those to fly.

[p51]

Maybe someone can convince them to get B-24J 44-44213 flying again...

[Warbird Kid]

Maybe someone can convince them to get B-24J 44-44213 flying again...

…and then give it to me.

[avenger2504]

I read in Flypast (I think it was) that the plan was to swap one of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Hurricanes for the MK 1 Hurricane shown here on display.

[Mike]

I think that ridiculous idea was well and truly killed. I really, really hope so!

[avenger2504]

yes i did wonder with both Hurricanes on the flight having history (especially the very last one built!)why they would even consider trading it for one that was more relevant to the Indian Air force. They could always ship it to to the UK and get the experts to rebuild it.

[Invader26]

That Tempest 11 is a mighty fine looker....

[astixjr]

Pretty cool idea. Great to see them taking so much interest in their aviation history. I wonder if they would have any interest in our Rapide? It served in India for many years. I'm sure we could work out a swap for that Fury!

[Mike]

No Furies in any of those pictures!

[astixjr]

No Furies in any of those pictures!

Tempest. Why did I type Fury? Too much of this maybe