80-Year-Old Historic IAF Dakota 'Parshuram' Set to Roar Over the Ganga
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In a stirring blend of modern aerospace power and living military history, the Indian Air Force's (IAF) vintage Douglas DC-3 Dakota aircraft, christened 'Parshuram', is preparing to take flight over the sacred ghats of Varanasi during the proposed Kashi air show over the River Ganga. Built nearly eight decades ago in the United States, the historic warbird has traversed an extraordinary journey across the globe—transitioning from World War II combat operations with the British Royal Air Force into civilian commercial aviation, deteriorating into forgotten scrap metal, and ultimately undergoing a complete multi-year restoration in the United Kingdom before being inducted into the IAF’s prestigious Vintage Flight fleet. While final administrative approvals for the Varanasi aerial exhibition are awaiting official confirmation, anticipation along the riverfront remains electric to witness the legendary transporter that altered India's military history take wing once more.
Resurrected From Scrap: How 'Parshuram' Returned to the Indian Air Force
The survival and airworthy revival of the eighty-year-old aircraft is owed to an inspiring personal preservation initiative driven by military heritage:
Procured From a Scrapyard: In 2011, then-Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar tracked down and acquired the derelict airframe from a scrapyard overseas, driven by a determination to preserve India's aviation legacy.
Tribute to an Air Force Veteran: Chandrasekhar undertook the ambitious project in memory of his father, the late Air Commodore M.K. Chandrasekhar, a decorated IAF officer who flew Dakotas extensively throughout the formative years of his military flying career.
Flawless Restoration in the UK: The aircraft was transferred to specialized vintage aeronautical engineers in the United Kingdom, where it underwent an exhaustive, ground-up restoration to meet international civil aviation safety standards and regain full airworthiness status.
Formal Induction into IAF Fleet: On February 13, 2018, the refurbished Dakota was formally gifted to the Indian Air Force; it subsequently embarked on a multi-stage ferry flight from Britain on April 17, 2018, landing triumphantly at Hindon Air Force Station on April 26, 2018.
Demonstrated Flying Pedigree: Assigned tail number VP-905 and named 'Parshuram', the aircraft showcased its flying performance during the IAF Day parade at Hindon in 2018 and captivated international spectators at the Aero India showcase in Bengaluru in 2019.
The Historical Timeline: Eight Decades in the Global Skies
From wartime production lines to ceremonial flypasts, the aircraft's eighty-year service timeline reflects major milestones in modern aviation:
1944 (Manufacture): Rolled off the assembly line in the United States as a Douglas DC-3 military transport aircraft.
1945 (World War II Operational Induction): Officially entered frontline operations with Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF).
Post-War Transition: Decommissioned from frontline military operations and transitioned into regional civilian transport fleets.
2011 (Rescue from Scrap): Rescued from foreign scrapyards by Rajeev Chandrasekhar for comprehensive structural rebuilds.
2018 (Return to Indian Skies): Landed at Hindon Airbase, entering service as the crown jewel of the IAF Vintage Aircraft Flight.
The Kashmir Airlift Legend: The Significance Behind Tail Number VP-905
The identification number painted across 'Parshuram' carries profound historical resonance linked to the salvation of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947:
The 1947 Emergency Airlift: On October 27, 1947, Indian Air Force Dakotas initiated one of the most daring operational airlifts in modern warfare, air-landing Indian Army troops from Delhi to the Srinagar airfield following an invasion by Pakistan-backed tribal raiders.
No. 12 Squadron's Heroic Role: Flying ten DC-3 Dakota aircraft into treacherous mountain valleys without modern navigational aids, No. 12 Squadron shuttled frontline soldiers, artillery guns, medical consignments, and essential supplies that successfully secured the Kashmir Valley.
Commemorating Tail Number VP-905: The lead aircraft that took part in those decisive airlift sorties carried tail number VP-905; to honor that historic contribution and the brave aircrews who preserved the nation's integrity, the restored 'Parshuram' was bestowed with the very same serial number.
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