Where have all the Iskra's gone?

The PZL TS-11 Iskra was selected by the IAF as an Intermediate Jet Trainer for Stage IIA training in the mid 70s. Approximately sixty of these single engined jets were acquired and were flown by the Fighter Training Wing at Hakimpet. Over the year through usage as well as through attrition a number of airframes were rendered unflyable or were approaching the end of thier Total Technical Life (TTL). The IAF got sanction to get 14 more refurbished Iskras as attrition replacements.

However to circumvent Indian Custom Duties and Taxes for the 'new' aircraft, the IAF flew out the older damaged and TTL-expired Iskras to Poland and took charge of the new aircraft which sported the serials of the older dumped aircraft. Thus as far as the Customs Department was concerned, fourteen Iskras went out bearing so and so serial numbers and fourteen 'New' Iskras came back bearing the same serial numbers. he he he , I hope they are not reading this!.

This meant that several airframes were left lying in Poland and were either given off for preservation duties or are still lying dumped in the town of Bydgoszyncz. The table gives the fates of ten of the fourteen older aircraft. The table below gives some of the 'new' Iskras that came in place of the older aircraft.

Left: W-1758, W-1767 and W-1748 seen at Hakimpet Right: W-1758 seen at Dundigal in end of 2001

Acknowledgements: Hans Van Herk, John Dyer, Czarek Ptiorowski, Tony Morris, Simon Watson and Phil Camp
Related Links:
-Overseas Iskras