Stinson L5 Sentinel at HIET

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
The Sentinel has acquired its engine cowlings back since the last time we saw it. Note the Dakota main gear wheel in the back. Pic Courtesy : B Harry

Credit for discovery of this bird goes to B Harry, who intially thought that the aircraft was a Piper cub. The Sentinel looks quite complete and to be in good condition. The aircraft does not carry a VT registration and its identity is a mystery to us.

The Sentinel has acquired its engine cowlings in a recent visit as can be seen in the second photograph.  There are also other airframes in HIET. One of them appears to be a Cessna, while the other is just the skeleton airframe of a Piper Cub / Aeronca Chief type of aircraft. Unfortunately we do not have any photographs of that aircraft yet.