April 20, 2024

As mentioned, In Hyderabad, the Indian Air Force has got its establishments like the Air Force Academy ,Dundigal, The air force stations at Begumpet and Hakimpet, where the Helicopter Training School and the Fighter Training Wing are located, and The College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad. Another Airforce Academy which imparts Basic Flying training in the HPT-32 aircraft is situated in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, on the border with Andhra Pradesh at Bidar.

At these establishments one can get to see aircraft like Su-7, Vampire FB52, Mystere IVa, Ouragan, Kiran etc. (all at the AFA), the Iskra (Hakimpet Officers Mess), the Hunter (College of Air Warfare Mess) and the Ajeet (Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering, MCEME).

There is a concentration of warbirds in the Alwal area where the MCEME and the College of Defence Management are located. A surprising find was the tail section of an Iskra found lying in a park in the residential area of Vayupuri. Vayupuri is an ex-Defence officers colony established initially to accomodate retired airforce officers. Now it is an attraction for the city's elite due to its isolation from the main hustle and bustle of the city. No idea as to how this tail section made its way here. The Hakimpet Air Force Station flying the Iskra is quite some distance from this place and no military flying takes place over the residential areas of the city.

Click to Enlarge Seen lying in the park in Vayupuri in Northeastern part of the city is this tail section of an Iskra trainer.
A Closeup of the tail section of the Iskra . No serial number or Identification plates are visible on any part of the wreckage. Click to Enlarge

The Civilian Category is represented by a Dakota DC-3 owned by Flytech Aviation Academy which is used for Ground Training at the Nadirgul Air Strip, where the National Cadet Corps has based some of its Gliders.

Douglas Dakota VT-DTS is the only WW2-Vintage warbird in Private hands in Hyderabad. Operated by Flytech Aviation Academy, this aircraft is now without its engines in a ground training role.

Another location where derelict aircraft can be seen is the Begumpet airport, which houses not only the Hyderabad civilian airport, but also the A P Aviation Academy and the Begumpet Air Force Station. The Begumpet airport was established in the late 30s and has been the scene of flying in the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad's state. There are a number of private institutes as well as the Indian Air Force which now share the airfield.

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Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge
An Aeronautical Institute within the Hyderabad Airport Premises has this Beech Baron and an unmarked Yellow coloured HAL Pushpak parked outside its premises. Both are static aircraft and are not flying.

The Institute of Aeronautical Maintenance and Engineering which is located within the airport premises has a non-flyable Beech Baron [VT-ECO] and a Pushpak. These can be viewed from the main road itself . The Baron was previously registered with the Kirloskar group.

 

Aircraft Type Serial No Remarks
Hawker Hunter F 56 BA-313 Officers Mess, College of Air Warfare
Douglas DC-3 Dakota VT-DTS Flytech Aviation Academy, Nadirgul Air Strip
HAL HS-748 Avro -NA- NAA? Derelict condition at AFS, Begumpet AP Missing – Scrapped?
HAL HS-748 Avro -NA- IAF Withdrawn from use & Stored Begumpet AP Missing – Moved?
Beech Twin Bonanza VT-ECO Begumpet Air Port
HAL Pushpak -NA- Begumpet Air Port

 

 

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