Warbirds of India

HAL Gnat E261 seen at the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum.

Located in the heart of Thiruvanathapuram, in Vikaspuram area, is the Kerala State Science & Technology Museum (KSSTM). KSSTM is an autonomous organisation, setup by the Government of Kerala in 1984. It functions as a Science Museum, and is also a study cum recreation centre and an important tourist attraction. KSSTM has in its possession a solitary HAL Gnat that is displayed outside the main building.

Akkulam is home to the Indian Air Force's Southern Air Command Headquarters (SAC HQ). SAC was set up in 1984 just before the sector became active with the IPKF deployment in 1987. Initially it was in Belhaven Palace in Trivandrum City. In 1996 it moved to Akkulam, just outside the city.

The pole mounted Gnat at the Southern Air Command HQ at Akkulam. Drop tanks in place, with the HQ Building in the background.

 

The Hawker Sea Hawk FGA 6 [IN-174] at the Jawahar Bal Bhawan on the Museum Road in Trivandrum. Pic Courtesy : Sandeep Unnithan

The first sighting of a Warbird in Kerala was the result of various emails. One sighting sent by Susheel Kurien was interesting. He said "The aircraft I saw in Trivandrum in 1999 is outside the government guest house in Kowdiar on the main road that runs from the Kowdiar palace...I just cant remember what it was, but I do know it is a jet (maybe a gnat ?) " . Wg Cdr V G Kumar later confirmed it as a Sea Hawk .