A derelict Harvard is lying around in one of the government establishments in Chennai. The aircraft though in pretty bad shape, is still a good candidate for restoration, as the entire fuselage, engine mountings, main wing spars seem to be in good condition. Since we have record of only four Harvards in the country, the news of a fifth airframe makes a very welcome addition to our listings.  |  | | The discovery of this derelict Harvard in Chennai boosts the known Harvard population in India to five. The RAF style Roundels can just be made out in the picture on the right, as is the fin flash on the tail fin. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
The aircraft does not have the rudder and elevator control surfaces. Nor does it has wings beyond the main spar. But the entire fuselage, main spar, undercarriage oleos and engine mounting is present along with the cockpit windscreen and canopy framework. Most of the aluminum skin is missing exposing the frame construction underneath.  |  | | These pictures give some idea on the condition of the front portion of the airframe. The Engine is not present, but the Mounting frame can be clearly seen in the right picture as are the undercarraige oleos. The Wheels are missing presumably taken away by souvenir hunters. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
The most interesting fact about this derelict is that it seemed to have been one used directly by the erstwhile RAF or the RIAF of World War 2. For below the corrosion and years of wear, one can still make out the faint Blue-Red Roundels of the Royal Air Force / Pre-Independence Indian Air Force. The tail fin also carries traces of the fin flash carried by allied aircraft of pre Independence Era.  |  | | The port side of the aircraft reveals the same condition as the starboard side reveals. though the roundels are not so prominent in this side of the pictures, the condition of the Wing Main spar can be seen in the picture on the left. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
The only clue to the aircraft identity comes thru one of the identification plates carried on the aircraft. The plate is by Noordyn Aviation of Montreal Canada, which makes this aircraft one of the Harvard variants built in Canada and known as CCS Harvards. The aircraft is in amazingly good condition inspite of the ravages of weather and souvenir hunters. many components/parts can still be found on the aircraft.  |  | | A close up of the Identification plate as seen in the center of the left picture, gives some clues on the ancestory of this derelict Harvard. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
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Warbird Discovery of the Year 2001
Percival Prentice "There's a wrecked HPT-32 at Chennai" was the message that Vijay Reddy once sent me. He went on to write that the HPT-32, probably got wrecked sometime back and was bought here and dumped. We would not have given a second glance if the pictures of the wrecked HPT-32 were sent, but when Vijay sent in the actual pictures, we stood up and listened! This aircraft was no ordinary HPT-32 , but a very rare vintage Percival Prentice. Our doubts about the aircraft were cleared as we saw the pictures of the tail section. Vijay also sent in a picture of an identification plate that sealed any doubts we had. This was one of the rare original Prentices manufactured by HAL in the late 40s. The date on the Identification plate mentions August '51 as a probable date of manufacture for this aircraft.  | Dumped among the shrubs and creepers the classic lines of the Percival Prentice can only be just made out. The aircraft has severe damage to the control surfaces including the Ailerons and Elevators. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy | | Surprisingly the cockpit frame and structure is intact and the metal skin too is in good conditions with little sign of corrossion for an aircraft exposed to the elements for years. The front two piece windscreen is very much evident in this picture. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |  |
Vijay made enquiries as to how this derelict ended up here, but came out with no information at all. The basic fuselage looks quite intact. The engine of the aircraft is missing. The Cockpit canopy frame is pretty intact. obviously the fixed undercarraige was missing. some of the control surfaces seemed to have been damaged badly.  |  | | The tail surfaces leading edge is a give away as far as the identity of the aircraft is concerned. There is no Serial Number or markings to help us trace its lineage. The picture on the right shows the amount of shrubbery and vegetation that almost obscures the Prentice from public view. Note also the damaged eleveator surfaces. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
HAL had manufactured only about 66 of these trainers which were supplied to the IAF as the basic trainer in the fifties. Most of them equipped the Air Force Flying College at Jodhpur.  | And Identification plate atlast! The ID plate confirms that the Prentice was one of those manufactured by HAL in the 50s. The date given as 22 August 51. About 66 Prentices were manufactured by HAL in its Bangalore plant. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
Since only one other example is surviving in India (in the IAF Museum), This aircraft would make a pretty good candidate for restoration. Its a tough task, but a static restoration should cost anywhere between 1000 to 1500 USD, provided its current owners are willing to let the aircraft undergo restoration instead of getting rusted away! The rarity of this aircraft has lead us Warbirds of India team to give Vijay Simha Reddy the "Warbird Discovery of the Year 2001" Award - which is a non-existant award right now, but which we hope to make it real some day and send to him! So bear (Or have beer) with us Vijay
 | | Seahawk IN-252 and Gnat IE-1248 at the Madras Institute of Technolgy. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
Gnat IE-1248, Madras Institute of Technology The Gnat at the Madras Institute of Technology was more of a 'myth' than a reality for us. We had heard many stories and rumours of its existance but it was no where to be seen. When the Sea Hawk IN-252 turned up, it was speculated that it was probably the Seahawk that was misreported as a Gnat. It turns out that we were wrong. The MIT has recently bought out its Gnat from the hiding and have displayed it proudly besides its Seahawk. The serial number IE-1248 of the Gnat indicates that this was probably one of the first HAL built aircraft.  | Gnat IE-1248 at first glance appears to be slightly better off. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
At first glance, the condition of the aircraft appears to be bad. one of the panels on the spine was missing. The rear port elevator is almost knocked loose of its hinge and was hanging out rather ignominously about to fall off. However it is assumed that this was probably the results of many years of storage. There could be plans to clean up , repaint and repair the external appearance of the aircraft. | But it is clear from this picture that some panels are missing. The Control surfaces are also in need for repair. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |  |
IE-1248 features the ensignia of No.2 Squadron. A Winged arrow adorns the forward fuselage just below the canopy. This is much in standard with most of the other preserved Gnats around the country. A majority of them featuring No.2's emblem. | The emblem of No.2 Squadron on the nose of Gnat IE-1248 is evident here. As is the 'White Tiger' embelm on the Sea Hawk. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |  |  | A frontal view of the Gnat. Note the single pylong attachments under the wing. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
The oleo of the nosewheel appears to have 'sunk' according to the pictures. The result of many years of storage..no doubt. No Ejection seat is visible in the cockpit, but the pictures are not too clear to confirm this.
I was quite sure sometime back that the IIT Chennai had two Sea Hawks and one of them bore the serial IN-252. When Vijay Reddy sent us the photographs of IN-235, I remember goading him to find out the second missing Sea Hawk at the IIT. I was quite sure about the existance of this second aircraft as I personally remember reading and noting down a report on the Sea Hawks which had a picture of IN-252 being used for instructional purposes. Not soon after I stumbled on the old notebook in which i had made the note and found that the news report mentioned delivery to the Madras Institute of Technology and not the Indian Institute of Technology!. The MIT's is now famous for being the alma-mater of the current President of the republic of India, Shri APJ Abul Kalam.  | Sea Hawk [IN-252]Â stored in the open in the Madras Insitute of Technology at Chromepet , Chennai. Notice the missing wingtip . Pic Courtesy : B Harry | | Closeup of the Nose section and the display conditions of Sea Hawk [IN-252]Â . The students in the background are too busy dancing to the tune of 'O Podu' a local hit song to notice our photographer.. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |  |
The photographs on this page have been sent to us by B Harry of Chennai. The photos reveal that the aircraft is now stored outside , as I clearly remember that it was earlier displayed inside a building for the instructional purposes. The aircraft's condition looks quite okay, with no excessive corrossion or damage. The only visible damage was the missing port wingtip, which left the ribs exposed.  | Sea Hawk [IN-252]Â stored in the open in the Madras Insitute of Technology at Chromepet , Chennai. Pic Courtesy : B Harry | | An inside peek into the cockpit of IN-252 reveals a mangle of wires and the Joystick. Note some of the instruments are still there as is the gunsight on the top. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |  |
A look inside the cockpit shows that much of the instrumentation is still there as is the gunsight and the 'stick'. The MIT also has a Gnat airframe. This is recorded in a seperate page.
 | Line up of the two Beechcrafts at the Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology in Padur. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
Present for instructional purposes along with the Queen Air, another Beech aircraft on display at the HIET at Padur is the ex-Hindustan Steel Limited's Twin Bonanza, with registration VT-DOR. The Aircraft is a forty year old airframe, being taken on rolls on 7 December 1962, and serving for thirty two years before being deregistered on 16 November 1994.
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Recently acquired, still sporting traces of its past ownership with the Steel Authority of India Limited [SAIL] is the Beech Queen Air VT-DOQ. Not exactly a warbird in technical sense, this civilian instructional airframe forms a pair along with a Beech Twin Bonanza at the Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology in Chennai.  |  | | Beech Queen Air 65 VT-DOQ of the Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology used for instructional purposes. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
Originally taken on board by SAIL on 8th April 1974, VT-DOQ spent nearly three decades on the SAIL's airfleet before being de-registered on 17th August 2004. Not much is known of its history, but the aircraft looks as if it has seen some years flying the outback in India. | VT-DOQ as seen from the rear three quarters. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |  |  | Close up of the Registration on the rear fuselage of VT-DOQ. Note also the previous owners name SAIL painted on the top, even though HIET has acquired this airframe. Pic Courtesy : B Harry | | Another photo showing the good condition of airframe of the aircraft. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |  |
We dont have an idea as to when SAIL disposed of its aircraft, or when HIET has procured these for training. The entire aircraft seems to be in good condition, along with engines, undercarraige and props looking complete. The Airworthiness of this aircraft is not known, but it is assumed that SAIL had disposed off the Queen Air due to the age of the airframe. The aircraft was hauled to HIET in pieces sometime this year and assembled at the site.  | Forward view of the Queen Air , showing the twin engine nacelles with the Lycomings and the tricycle undercarraige. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
A couple of years ago, HIET's website mentioned that they had aircraft like a DH-82 Tigermoth, Stinson Sentinel and Harvard. While the Harvard was pictured sometime back, only recently (Mar 2004) did the first photograph of the Sentinel surface. The Sentinel is thus the first 'Warbird Discovery' of this year.  | This Stinson L5 Sentinel of Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology used for instructional purposes at Padur in Chennai. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
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One of the premier private Engineering institues in Chennai is the Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology. The college not only offers Aero engineering curriculum training, but also flying training thru its Orient Flying School. The HIET at one point of time had some gems like a DH-82 Tigermoth, Stinson Sentinel and Harvard.  | This yellow painted Harvard is displayed outside the building of Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology at Padur in Chennai. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
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The Indian Navy had in the late eighties contributed one of its Sea Hawk fighters to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) , Chennai. This was primarily to help the technical students of the Aerospace department familiarise themselves with actual aircraft. The aircraft IN-235 was from No. 300 INAS "White Tigers" and carried the insignia on thier noses.  | Sharing the cramped space inside the workshop at IIT Chennai, is Sea Hawk [IN-235]Â stored with its wings in the folded position. Notice the parked vehicles of the staff and students. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
When Vijay visited IIT Chennai, he was able to trace out only IN-235 . This aircraft was now stored in one of the workshops at the IIT. Initially we believed that another Sea Hawk IN-252 , was in IIT Chennai, but now its confirmed that the second Sea Hawk is actually at the Madras Institute of Technology at Chromepet.  |  | | The logo of the Indian Institute of Technology , Chennai can be just seen in the first picture ahead of the air intakes. The aircraft has been gathering lot of dust as can be seen by the picture on the right. Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |
IN-235 on the other hand is pretty much intact. The aircraft shows some corrossion on its outer skins. Even though, some of the cockpit instruments were removed for instructional purposes, some are still in the cockpit. The aircraft is otherwise left untouched as it is by the students of the Institute. It still lies in the workshop, gathering dust, sharing the space with the two wheelers of the staff and students of the department. The only change it has from its Navy days is the IIT logo that adorns the lower part of the fuselage just ahead of its air intakes. The aircraft still retains its Martin-Baker ejection seat. A look inside the cockpit of Sea Hawk [IN-235] shows some of the instruments still in place. Some have been removed for instructional purposes.
Pic Courtesy : Vijay Simha Reddy |  |
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The Periyar Science and Technology Center located in the sprawling, well laid-out campus of Kotturpuram in an area of 21.25 acres. The Science center set up to encourage the learning of science and technology houses a  HF-24 Marut 1T Operational trainer in its premises. Going to Periyar would cost about 100 Rupees from the city center. You would be lucky if it costs you less than that, thanks to the famous auto drivers of Chennai.  | The HF-24 Marut 1T [BD-888] seen from the rear as on display at the Periyar Technology Center. Displayed on specially made stilts, the aircraft is not in good shape. The Pitot boom bent by ongoers hanging on to it. Pic Courtesy : Ashit Chakraborty |
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 | HAL HT-2  IX-741 seen on display inside the Periyar Science and  Technology Center. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
In addition to the HAL HF-24 1T, a HAL HT-2 is displayed inside the Periyar Science and Technology Center. This HT-2 IX-741 is displayed on pedestals and is in its original paint scheme of its airforce days. B Harry from Chennai brings this exclusive report from the PTC at Adyar.
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Tambaram Air Force Station on the outskirts of Chennai houses the Flying Instructor's School (FIS). The FIS was originally raised in the north in Ambala in 1948 and moved to its current location in 1954. Till then Chennai (Then Madras) saw aircraft only at St Thomas Mount, from where a flight of Blenheims and Wapitis of the erst while Coastal Defence Flights (CDF) used to fly missions during World War Two. Initially equipped with Harvards, the FIS started using HT-2s which it used till 1989 in thier Lycoming - Reengined avatar. Currently the FIS uses HPT-32s and HJT-16 Kirans. | Folland Gnat IE-1078 seen at Tambaram AFS in artificial Camouflage scheme. Note the two hard points and droptanks. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |  |
Atleast two warbirds are in existence at FIS. One of them is a HAL Assembled Folland Gnat IE-1078. This aircraft is a veteran of the 1965 India Pakistan war and was part of No.23 Squadron based at Pathankot. Though it is not confirmed, it is assumed that this aircraft took part in a some aircombats with F-86 Sabres during that time. One of the period photographs from that era show a Pilot Scramble at Pathankot, this picture is quite popular and has been reproduced in many publications.  |  | | THEN AND NOW: IE-1078 seen at Pathankot during a pilots scramble during the 1965 India Pakistan War. The same aircraft is now seen in the garish camo scheme at the Open day in Tambaram. Note the MiG-21 in the background with the Winged Daggers badge painted on the fin. |
IE-1078 however today is painted in a garish yellow-brown-green Desert style camouflage scheme that was never seen on Gnats. The aircraft has been seen on display on many 'Open House' days held at Tambaram. The Gnat has been painted with the label 'Ajeet' on both sides of the nose. Though it is quite clear that it has only two hardpoints under the wings and is most likely a Gnat that was never upgraded to Ajeet Standard. A Word of caution here, it has been noted that sometimes the IAF changes serial numbers on warbirds for historical context. The only way to confirm that IE-1078 is indeed the same aircraft is to verify its original Folland Gnat construction number. | This MiG-21 FL was seen at the Air Force Day Celebrations at Tambaram Air Force Station in 2001. Though it was thought to be a temporary visitor at that point of time, its second appearance at the recent open house day at FIS confirms that the aircraft is a permanent resident of Tambaram AFS. The presence of the intake cover and pitot tube protection covers indicate that this could be an instructional airframe. Sainik Samachar |  |  | Another view of the MiG-21 shows that the cockpit is empty without the usual ejection seat in place. Overall the condition of the aircraft seems to be very good. Pic Courtesy : B Harry |
The second airframe at Tambaram is an unidentified MiG-21FL. This aircraft's first photo was published in Sainik Samachar and at that time it was believed to be a flyer. However subsequent photos sent by Harry indicate that it is either an instructional airframe or a gate guardian. The aircraft does not have an ejection seat in the cockpit, nor a serial painted. The 'Winged Daggers' emblem is painted on the fin of the MiG. The Camouflage looks brand new and the aircraft sports an intake cover as well as protective covers for the pitot tube and other surfaces. This level of overall maintenance indicates that the MiG could be an instructional airframe.
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