Ajmer - HAL Ajeet E-1059 at Mayo College
The city of Ajmer is located in Ajmer
District adjoining Jaipur. A holy place for Muslims once in a year, Ajmer is home to the
Mayo College which is considered as one of the premier educational institutions in
Rajasthan.
Mayo College has on its premises a HAL
Ajeet serialled E-1059. The aircraft is on display in a barbed wire
enclosure with a board giving the type's background and performance particulars. Rishu Mandolia, who runs a website on
the Mayo College has sent in
these pictures of the HAL Ajeet.
| Aircraft Type |
Serial No |
Remarks |
| HAL Gnat II Ajeet |
E-1059 |
Mayo College , Ajmer |
Mayo College has on its premises a HAL
Ajeet serialled E-1059. The aircraft is on display in a barbed wire
enclosure on a small brick platform.
 |
 |
| The HAL Ajeet as
seen at Mayo College in Ajmer. The aircraft carries the squadron markings of No.2 IAF Sqn
on its nose. Appropriately fenced off and displayed on a pedestal. Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia |
There is some doubt about the authenticity
of the aircraft as an Ajeet, as it has only two hardpoints under its wings. Moreover, the
serial number of the aircraft is not in sequence with known serials of Ajeets. E-1059
sounds too much of a coincidence as there is a Gnat with the serial IE-1059
at the IAF Museum in Delhi. The undersides of the Wings are also painted with the
serial number
 |
The serial number E-1059
is clearly visible in this rear quarter shot of the Ajeet. Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia |
| The starboard side of E-1059
shows the label "Ajeet" painted just above the squadron emblem.
Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia |
 |
What is also noticeable is that the
roundels painted on the aircraft is not the original IAF Saffron-White-Green Roundels. It
seemed to have been changed in some subsequent paint job and the roundel sports a white
center instead of a green center
 |
The board giving the type
history and the performance specifications of the Ajeet. Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia |
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