Two views of Piper Super Cub VT-DTP, one of the oldest airworthy aircraft with the IIT at Kanpur. This aircraft has been on the civilian register for nearly forty years.

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

IIT Kanpur, as with the other older IITs in India is one of the premier technology training institutions in this part of the world.   The Institution has a full fledged Department of  Aerospace Engineering [http://www.iitk.ac.in/aero/] under Prof Kunal Ghosh.

The department specializes in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, propulsion, and aerospace structures. It has a unique flight laboratory with four powered aircrafts, four gliders and a 1000 m runway. All other academic institutions in the country make use of this facility.

Cessna 182 VT-DUM in the IIT Kanpur's hangar. The aircraft is presently grounded pending some OEM repairs.	The Piper Saratoga VT-ETL is definitely the 'In' aircraft according to the students of the department.

This department was inaugurated in 1964.   The first aircraft procured by the department was a Piper Super Cub VT-DTP in 1965, followed by a Cessna 182H VT-DUM in 1967.

Somewhere along the line, it is not known as to which year, the Department was gifted the IAF Kanpur II aircraft by the Indian Air Force. It is believed that the Kanpur was given to the Department by AVM Harjinder Singh himself. That is one of the oldest aircraft in thier possession.

The three Gliders VT-GER , VT-GDD and VT-GDE of the Gliding and Soaring Center.

The Gliding and Soaring centre attached to the department has significantly contributed to the aviation awareness amongst the young through its glider pilot training program. Three Gliders make up the force, One Super Blanik [VT-GDE] and two Schweizers [VT-GER and VT-GDD]

All photographs on this page are the copyright of Ashish Nigam