A late model Gnat, later converted to an Ajeet at a prestigous school in Ajmer
| The board giving the type history and the performance specifications of the Ajeet. Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia |
The city of Ajmer is located in Ajmer District adjoining Jaipur. A holy place for Muslims once in a year, Ajmer is home to the Mayo College which is considered as one of the premier educational institutions in Rajasthan.
Mayo College has on its premises a HAL Ajeet serialled E-1059. The aircraft is on display in a barbed wire enclosure with a board giving the type’s background and performance particulars. Rishu Mandolia, who runs a website on the Mayo College has sent in these pictures of the HAL Ajeet.
Mayo College has on its premises a HAL Ajeet serialled E-1059. The aircraft is on display in a barbed wire enclosure on a small brick platform.
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| The HAL Ajeet as seen at Mayo College in Ajmer. The aircraft carries the squadron markings of No.2 IAF Sqn on its nose. Appropriately fenced off and displayed on a pedestal. Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia | |
There is some doubt about the authenticity of the aircraft as an Ajeet, as it has only two hardpoints under its wings. Moreover, the serial number of the aircraft is not in sequence with known serials of Ajeets. E-1059 sounds too much of a coincidence as there is a Gnat with the serial IE-1059 at the IAF Museum in Delhi. The undersides of the Wings are also painted with the serial number
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The serial number E-1059 is clearly visible in this rear quarter shot of the Ajeet. Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia |
| The starboard side of E-1059 shows the label “Ajeet” painted just above the squadron emblem. Pic Courtesy : Rishu Mandolia |  |
What is also noticeable is that the roundels painted on the aircraft is not the original IAF Saffron-White-Green Roundels. It seemed to have been changed in some subsequent paint job and the roundel sports a white center instead of a green center
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