De Havilland Dove [IN-124]
The De Havilland Dove [Known as the Devon
in the IAF] was inducted into Naval Aviation in 1965. Two aircraft were procured from the
IAF and numbered IN-124 and IN-125. These were intially
procured to replace the Sealands in INAS550 which were being phased out. The
decision to operate the Dove was made easier by the fact that the Sealand and the Dove
essentially share the same type of engine - the inverted inline Gypsy Queen engine.
The first Dove arrived on 8 May 1965,
followed by the second a few days later. The service life of the Dove is not known much.
It is assumed that the aircraft served with INAS550 for sometime and was later retired.
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| YESTERDAY AND TODAY - De
Havilland Dove IN-124 during its service with the Indian Navy (above) and
on display in Goa today (Right. |
The first Dove IN-124 still
survives today - and was the first Dove aircraft earmarked for preservation in India. Only
recently did HAL put on display another Dove aircraft at their Museum.
IN-124 is in pristine
condition externally, complete with engine cowlings, propellers, undercarraige etc. The
aircraft however is not completely painted in the scheme it sported in service. It is
currently now in an all metal finish scheme. While the roundel and Serial number is
painted in place, the fin flash is missing.
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| The Dove
was first photographed by Hans van Herk as far back as in 1999 (here). The aircraft
appeared to be in much better condition than the one at HAL museum. More recently B
Harry's picture shows that the maintenance is still top notch, but the fin flash is still
missing. |
The aircraft is intact and in good
condition to be displayed on its own legs - The other known preserved example undertakes
the support of special jigs. Though the engine cowlings are in place, there is some
ambuigity whether the Gypsy Queen engines displayed elsewhere in the museum belong to this
aircraft or to the Sealand.
| This forward view of the
Dove shows the arabian sea in the magnificient Bogmalo Bay . The Beach which is not seen
is known for its 'dangerous' waves. |
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