C2216 Looking good at any angle, IAF Museum Palam’s MiG-21bis now sports a shark’s mouth and lightning flash after restoration. The Type 75 was designed for low-level, high-G manoeuvring dogfights with its uprated Tumansky R-25-300 engine, requiring a larger nose inlet diameter for increased airflow. It had the fastest rate of climb among the MiG-21 variants. Initially six aircraft built at GAZ-21 in Gorkii were delivered to India followed by CKD kits, and then manufactured under licence by HAL Nasik. (mehr von C2216)
VT-IUJ Parked at Gate D62 at IGIA T-3 in the afternoon, preparing for departure as 6E6186 to Mumbai. This aircraft was delivered as new to Indigo in Dec. 2019. (mehr von VT-IUJ)
B888 Enjoying summer morning sunshine at IAF Museum Palam after exhibits inside the main hangar have been relocated. The length of the aircraft can be better appreciated outdoors. Six IAF squadrons flew the Su-7 in the ground-attack role from 1968 to 1986. (mehr von B888)
YA-KMH Pushback at IGIA T-3 on a winter afternoon as RQ916 bound for Kabul. It’s getting rarer to see the A340 as airlines wind down those fleets. This aircraft has almost completed 20 years to the day, having started its service with Iberia before moving to Philippine Airlines and then Kam Air in July 2018. (mehr von YA-KMH)
VT-TNL Sunshine falls on the striking aubergine tail of this Neo, adding a dash of color to a typically drab winter afternoon at IGIA T-3 as the aircraft pushes back for departure as UK721 to Guwahati. (mehr von VT-TNL)
9H-LIS SpiceJets first A321 under tow at IGIA T-3 on a winter afternoon. This aircraft was reconfigured as Cargo (Covid-19) in Aug. 2020. Leased from Hi Fly Malta on 19 Oct 2020, it has been operating between Amritsar, Kutaisi and Tbilisi for several months. (mehr von 9H-LIS)
VT-ANQ AKE-type ULDs loaded and squared away as AI-121 bound for Frankfurt prepares for departure at Gate A11 at IGIA T-3. In a unique and much appreciated gesture, Air India applied special livery to this Dreamliner to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism. (mehr von VT-ANQ)
VT-SIF Second aircraft to be delivered to Air Sahara, this aircraft is a derelict at IGIA. Built in 1980 at Renton, it changed hands a number of times, Air Sahara being the 17th operator after having taken it over from Damania Airways. The name Good Sahara is visible under the cockpit. (mehr von VT-SIF)
AP-BLD Taxiing out into the sunset at IGIA T-3. This Toulouse-built airframe was tragically lost with almost all on board at Karachi on May 22, 2020 when PK8303 from Lahore was attempting to go-around in clear weather, adding to PIAs long list of fatal accidents and Pakistans abysmal air safety record. (mehr von AP-BLD)
HS986 Restored Spitfire on display at IAF Museum Palam in the markings of the Advanced Flying School (AFS) based at Ambala. The chakra worn by RIAF aircraft from 1947-50 has replaced the roundels. The IAF received Spitfires in Oct. 1944 and a number of variants were taken on charge from the RAF to equip fourteen squadrons and flying schools. After Hurricanes, the entire RIAF fighter force was equipped with Spitfires by mid-1946 before the Tempest II was inducted. (mehr von HS986)
IA1329 The IAF's first "supersonic-in-a-dive" fighter on display at IAF Museum Palam. This recently restored Mystere has the striking emblem of No. 8 Sqn. "Eight Pursoot" on the port side. It also equipped No. 1 "Tigers", No. 3 "Cobras", No. 31 "Lions" and No. 32 "Thunderbirds" Sqn. In Sept. 1965, a Mystere flown by Sq Ldr AB Devayya was intercepted and fatally damaged near Sargodha by a PAF F-104 Starfighter, which in turn was shot down by the vastly outclassed Mystere. (mehr von IA1329)
ID606 On display at the IAF Museum in Palam, where it was based. Thirty RAF Vampire NF.10s powered by the Goblin 3 were refurbished as NF.54s and delivered to the IAF between April 1954 and Aug. 1957. After restoration, the emblem of No. 10 Sqn. "Winged Daggers" is visible on the starboard side. (mehr von ID606)