Odisha News Times News Of Odisha For Odisha
Aircraft reg. No – VT-CNY
Model No – D18S Twin Beech
Manufactured by- Douglas Aircraft corp. USA
Year of Manufacture – 1942
Bhubaneswar:8/10/20: The aircraft, probably the first to touch the soil of Odisha was bought in the year 1945 by the flamboyant Maharaja of Mayurbhanj, a princely state of Odisha. His Highness Maharaja Sir Pratap Chandra Bhanjadeo used it extensively for his flying and later sold it to the government of Odisha in 1958 for a token amount of One rupee only. It was used as Odisha’s first STATE AIRCRAFT for V.I.P flying. Great personalities of Odisha like Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab and Ace pilot and most loved leader of Odisha, BIJU PATNAIK have used this Aircraft for their numerous sorties while forging the history of Odisha.
In 1975 it was sold to M/s CAMA AVIATION COMPANY who after overhauling and refurbishing sold it to M/s COAL INDIA LTD. as their First Aircraft. Nearly two decades later in 1994 M/s COAL INDIA LTD. declared the aircraft as obsolete. Abandoned and stripped of its past glory. It was auctioned to a scrap dealer in 1996 where it was destined to be ripped of its body, character, and its prized place in Odisha’s aviation history.
Stepping in … right on time, it was the MAYFAIR Group, committed to restoring the glory of the past preserving it for a generation to witness and to understand what history to restoring is all about. These vintage aircraft were bought and transported to Bhubaneswar from Kolkata by road which was a feat by itself. Today … standing tall, it its pride of place, at Mayfair, where this “FLYING HISTORY” rightfully belongs. (Source: Bharat Chandra Bhanj Deo FB Page)
