Madhya Pradesh is the largest state in India till the time the new state of
Chattisgarh was carved out of it. So called because it really is in the central region of
India, the state was home to several airfields from the Second World War. Prominent
airfields include Bairagarh (Bhopal), Gwalior, Nagda, Bhilai and others.
Birlagram (Nagda)
120 miles to the east of the capital Bhopal
is the town of Birlagram. Birlagram is the location where a major industrial complex of
the Aditya Birla Group - Grasim Industries is based. The town is actually located
near Nagda but is refered to as Birlagram. David Hunter recently visited Nagda and
confirmed that the last remaining Dakota of the Birla group is still present at the
Birlagram airport.
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| VT-AUM is the last
of the Dakotas owned by the Birla Group. It is currently parked on the Birlagram airfield
near Nagda. Pic Courtesy : David Hunter |
The Aircraft, a C-47A c/n 18905 registered
as VT-AUM sits at the end of the runway. It was originally planned to be moved to a
childrens park to act as a play thing, but it proved too difficult for dismantling and was
left at the airfield. Sadly , years of neglect is showing a telling effect and the tyrs
and undercarraige along with the tail fin have deteriorated considerably. Even then,
someone has taken the effort to seal the aircraft - including the doors and windows.
| Aircraft Type |
Regn |
Remarks |
| Douglas DC-3 Dakota |
VT-AUM |
Nearly derelict but extant 2006 |
Gwalior
Gwalior is the only major airbase in the
central states of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. The Maharajpur AFS located on
the outskirts of Gwalior is the home to the Mirage 2000 Squadrons, Nos 1 and 7. It has
been so ever since the Mirages came to India. Both the squadrons belong to 40 Wing.
Gwalior is also the home of TACDE, which is India's premier Combat Tactics
School.
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The War Memorial at Gwalior's
Maharajpur Air Force Station. Pic Courtesy : Sanjay Simha |
A Sukhoi-7 is preserved as an outdoor
display at a roundabout at the Gwalior AFB.
| Aircraft Type |
Serial No |
Remarks |
| Sukhoi-7 |
-NA- |
Gwalior AFB |
Even though airfields exist at Raipur,
Bhopal , Mhow etc , no warbirds have been reported yet from these areas. The College
of Combat of the Indian Army is located at Mhow.
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