PZL TS-11 Iskra [W-1772]
On 16th December 2004, a solemn ceremony
was marked at Hakimpet to commemorate the phasing out of the Iskra. The last official
Instructor-Trainee flights were flown on this day and the aircraft were formally withdrawn
from their training regimes.
Two days later, on December 18th, Three
Iskras carried out a flypast during the Combined Graduation Parade. Out of these, a
solitary Iskra W-1741 peeled off and landed at Air Force Academy, This
Iskra was formally taken on charge by the AFA and it was planned to display the aircraft
on the Academy's premises. Subsequently we had been informed by visitor Jashandeep who
mentioned that the aircraft was placed at the Air Cadets Mess.
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PZL TS-11 Iskra [W-1741]
on display on the tarmac minutes after its final landing |
| PZL TS-11 Iskra [W-1772]
seen installed at its final resting place at the Cadets Mess. |
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In December 2005, I had taken photographs
of the Iskra. But it was not until I was designing this page did I notice that the Iskra
that was finally installed as a warbird was NOT W-1741 but W-1772!
When and how the switch was made, is really not known.
The aircraft can now be seen within the
surroundings of the Cadets Mess. Whereas the MiG-21 is the centerpiece at the Mess, the
Iskra can be seen towards the leftside of the entrance road a little bit distance from the
Mess building. A circular platform had been constructed and the aircraft placed on it.
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PZL TS-11 Iskra [W-1772]
seen from the approach pathway at the Cadets Mess. |
| An information board has
been placed with the data of the Iskra. |
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Care had been taken to put some kind of
support directly under the Oleos in the undercarriage. this enables the tyres to be off
the ground - thus preserving their shapes. However it appears that the starboard side
undercarriage door has been knocked off during installation, and it still lies underneath
the aircraft.
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| Note the
'loose' undercarriage bay door lying under the aircraft. Also Note the painted canopy
Perspex. The aircraft wheels also have chocks and direct support to the Oleo struts. |
A significant departure in the display is
the overpainting of the canopy Perspex with green paint. Previous aircraft had custom
shaped tarpaulins made to cover the canopies. It appears that the paint has been applied
on the outside, but we cant say for sure.
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A Close look at the rear
portion of W1772 shows the rudder at hard port position |
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