Hi,
    Well written article about the first plane of the IAF  .  Possibly, vintage RC flyers will have more to add about the plane and its RC counterpart. A nice read and well written article about a plane - http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Aircraft/History/901-901.html

This is a restored Westland Wapiti at the Air Force Museum in Palam, New Delhi. I photographed it in May 2006. Beautiful aircraft.

             Thats the most funniest part. Read the last para in the link I posted. The writer indicates the sad state of this bird that has not been restored in all these years. The last para reads like this...

"
There is no engine but just a vague look-alike, the undercarriage is bare with vehicle tyres and the national markings are a curious green, white and blue (at last count, no nation claimed these colours) and the serials are totally incorrect. Many Jupiter VIII engines are available with the South African Air Force Museum and enough data is available to credibly restore the only remaining Wapiti in the world. The IAF's founding warplane sits in the museum today crying out for the respect and grandeur that it deserves."


But my interest is to see if any vintage RC flyers fly these and can post pics or comments about the craft.

So true! I have some pictures taken at the IAF Museum which show the sad state of these "Restored" aircraft. Makes you weep. The Spit, Hurricane and a priceless Ohka Japanese Suicide Bomb (Probably only 2 or 3 left in the world) are rotting away. I climbed into the empty engine bay of the Ohka to retrieve an empty packet of Pan Parag!

I feel proud that I have sat inside a Spit and a Hurri, but they were in shambles.

Will send you all the snaps if you are interested.

Cheers!

VC

Quote
These first aircraft were bought for a princely sum of £10 each and were transferred from existing RAF squadrons in-country.

After adjusting for inflation, that is still cheaper than buying a maruti 800