Jamshedpur, July 29: Visiting the Sonari aerodrome on JRD Tata’s birthday has become a sort ritual in Jamshedpur over the years.
The static aircraft display and aero modelling fulfills the celebration of JRD Tata’s birth anniversary in the city was the highlight.
Models of helicopters, quadcopters and aeroplanes were the main attraction at the Jamshedpur airport that marked JRD Tata’s 111th birthday. JRD was also India’s first licensed pilot and that is the reason why aircraft display form an important part.
Ruchi Narendran, social worker inaugurated the exhibition at the Sonari aerodrome today.
Children were the most enthusiastic while watching the spectacular Static display of about six aircrafts along with an aeromodeling show where members of Jamshedpur Aeromodelling Club and Aeromodelling Club of Calcutta presented their models that were run on electric batteries and methanol as fuel.
” This is an annual event and we stress on this because there is an inseparable connection between JRD Tata and aircraft,” said an official of Jamshedpur Aeromodelling Club.�
Most of the aeromodels are either made of thermocol, balsa wood or fibre that makes it extremely light and easy to fly. Concerned about the environmental issues we have used a mixture of methanol and castor oil as the fuel. However, today most of the aeromodels were driven by battery.
�I am delighted seeing the planes from so close, this is my first visit to the air show and I would like to come here every year�, said Rahul Shukla, class 7 student of MNPS. Students from Bal Vihar, Sonari, a special school for the deaf and mute, also enjoyed the breathtaking spectacle.
Bell helicopters, MD902 V model helicopter and airplanes like Platus PC12 and Super King B200GT were some of the aircrafts displayed for the static show. Children and even youngsters preferred taking pictures in front of the airplanes.�
As a child, Jeh was inspired by his neighbour and French aviator Louis Bl�riot. Flying became a passion and, in 1932, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata founded India�s first commercial airline � now national carrier Air India.
