Warbirds of India

Jagan Pillarisetti

The Phase out ceremony

The aircraft was officially phased out on December 16, 2004 at Hakimpet at a solemn ceremony conducted in the afternoon. The Air Officer Commanding, AFS Hakimpet, Air Commodore Rakesh Kacker VM received the Chief Guest for the event, Air Marshal B N Gokhale AVSM VM, Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command.

	The final flypast by three Iskras escorted by two Kiran Mk IIs
As the Iskras approached the dias, the Kirans pulled up and away as the Iskras carried on.

There were five Iskras put up as a static display at the venue. Three Iskras were earmarked for a flypast and two more were on standby. A simple flypast of three Iskras escorted by two Kiran Mk IIs was done after which, the Iskras carried out a head on 'Trishul' (Trident) pass over the dais.

Photos Courtesy: Damien Burke and HandMade by Machine Ltd.
	Hurricane Mk 1 R4118 (G-HUPW) takes to the air.

It is now over four years since the Benares Hindu University's Engineering College (BENCO) sold the derelict Hurricane that was lying on its campus to englishman Peter Vacher. After a three year marathon restoration effort to make it airworthy, the Hurricane, R-4118 has taken to the air.

The aircraft was first reported to have been sold in early reports , Subsequently it was identified as R4118 and its construction number is G592301. It was registered in the United Kingdom as G-HUPW.