Comments on: Aviation in India – A Peep Into Its Early History

By: Gp Capt V Raghavan (Retd)

Gp Capt V Raghavan (Retd) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:04:46 +0000

Dear Sir,
I had seen the reference to Mr Giacomo D’Angelis likely to have been the first to fly a powered aeroplane in India in your blog and references to it in Bharat Rakshak too. I hadn’t thought much about it then. Recently happened to visit a link in Facebook on Madras. There is a photograph of the biplane that this gentleman had built. He was a prominent hotelier in Madras in the turn of the century. There are photos of his hotel and advertisements in the local newspapers. The person who maintains that page in Facebook says he would be delighted to add any information on this that links Chennai to Aviation history in the country. I would be happy if there are any photos or articles on the Coastal Defence Flight in Madras before the II WW.
Thanks and warm regards
Gp Capt V Raghavan

By: Javed Chaudhri

Javed Chaudhri — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:31:34 +0000

Dear Asad Awan
Good to hear from you.
Bapu began flying in September 1929, evidenced from his log book while Wing Commander Awan began flying in September 1930. I have read the book given to me by your late Uncle Javeed Wali Muhammad and I also met the Wing Commander, who was recognized as the first Muslim air force officer.

By: Gp Capt DC Mehta (Retd)

Gp Capt DC Mehta (Retd) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 08:32:37 +0000

Dear Gp Capt Bhargava,
I wish to speak to you. Could you be kind enough to let me know, how & when?

Shall appreciate an early response.

With warmest regards.

Gp Capt DC Mehta
9873178855 (Mobile – Delhi No)

By: jayaprakash

jayaprakash — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:01:56 +0000

S.V.Setty is one of the outstanding pioneer of world aviation. He achieved such distinction in shortest period of seven months by designing and building and testing two prototype of AVRO -504 by himself in collaboration with avro company. The First prototype was impressed and purchased by First Australian aviator during maiden test flight by s.v.setty on March 10, 1912. (The success of the aircraft in its maiden flight is very rear in the aviation history). The second prototype (improved version) was purchased by Royal AIR Force on 3 may 1912 and placed order for additional two number. Later on, He gifts new design for AVRO company (AVRO-504) and later became “THE MOST OUTSTANDING AIRCRAFT OF THE WORLD FOR THE YEAR 1913”. The aircraft was used extensively both during and after the WW-1. The aircraft was sold to more than 33 countries including INDIA and USA and licensed its production to more than 6 countries. The Gold medal presented him 12 June 1912 by AVRO COMPANY stands testimonial all the above event. Apart from the gold medal, experience certificate issued by avro company on 12 march 1912, Article published by Modern review(calcata),which carried interview of s.v.setty from London.(june-1912) and flight records of s.v.setty at Brookland flying school UK are further evidence to above, since avro record burnt in the year 1958, He is only person in the world having record to claim the design of avro 504. The evidence about him can be obtained from earlyaviator.com.

By: jayaprakash

jayaprakash — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:53:10 +0000

The First person to apply for construction of aeroplane in india is S.V.setty(1914) from karnataka. He his the designer of most outstanding aircraft of the world for the year 1913 in collaboration with avro company(Model name- AVRO -504). Due to his premature death in the year 1918 ,he is out of aviation history

By: Gp Capt Kapil Bhargava (Retd)

Gp Capt Kapil Bhargava (Retd) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:43:36 +0000

For those who wish to comment on this article: -

I do not see why religion should come into the history of early aviation in India. If the early pilots were not foreigners, they were all Indians.

Looking for early Muslim aviators is best left to those who are interested in their history. They may please do their own research on the subject. Otherwise, the next questions will be who was the first Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jew, Parsi, Sikh, etc. I had already confessed that I am not a historian. My next confession is that I am vehemently against dividing and classifying professional people according to their religion.

During my career in the Indian Air Force and even otherwise, I never been concerned with anyone else’s faith. It was always their business, certainly not mine. I have some very good friends from many faiths. When three of us young fighter pilots went to the Uk in 1953. We were first sent to Cirencester in the Cotswolds where the Thames was the width of a 25 foot stream. There were two PAF pilots undergoing a course to become qualified flying instructors. The five of us were the best of friends. The RAF officers could not understand that. One of them very surreptitiously asked me for an explanation. I told him that there was much more in common betw4een us than he knew or could imagine. And compared to them the Brits were strange and aliens.

I will let the comment from Jagan remain on the blog for a while. Thereafter, it and any responses to it and comments related to religion will be deleted from the blog. Kindly humour me for this quirk.

With best wishes,
Kapil Bhargava

By: Jagan

Jagan — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 02:34:22 +0000

This may be a bit late, but I have been following the discusion with interest.

Reg the question of the first Muslim Aviator in India. While there is no doubt that Bapu Morad was one of the first, It does seem that there were at least two Muslims who preceded him as qualified pilots. Bapu Morad held Licence No. 88, dated 21 May 1930.

There was a H Hossein from Bombay, who held No. 39 from September 1929, followed by S Amjad Ali of Delhi who held No.64 from March 30.

Hope this helps

Jagan

By: S. Muhammad azam

S. Muhammad azam — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:32:16 +0000

Dear Mr Chaudhri,

I have been waiting for your response with regard to posting pictures of Group capt A M Morad.

Azam

By: muhammad Azam

muhammad Azam — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:57:09 +0000

Dear Mr Pulak Sen,
Greetings and I invite your attention to my earlier request of placing on the net of your uncle’s book.I will also remind Mr Chaudhri for posting Group Capt Morad’s pictures. Thanks.
Azam

By: Gp Capt Kapil Bhargava (Retd)

Gp Capt Kapil Bhargava (Retd) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:10:27 +0000

While I appreciate the sentiments involved, I find that often IAF is mentioned as RIAF, In fact it was IAF till 1945 when King George VI accorded it the honour of becoming RIAF in March 1945, around the 15th of the month.

On becoming a Republic on 26 January 1950, the Royal was permanently dropped from its name and it again became the Indian Air Force.

This message is being put up in the interest of accuracy. But I am very grateful to all the comments which have greatly added to its value. It is particularly good to see inputs from Pakistan including of the first pioneers of IAF.

Comments from Spain and Brazil have helped clarify the history of first flights in India. This is of great importance and very welcome.

Thank you all for contributing to this blog.