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Kerala war exhibit: Gnat aircraft may be repaired soon

 
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karatecatman
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:45 pm    Post subject: Kerala war exhibit: Gnat aircraft may be repaired soon Reply with quote

http://tinyurl.com/6qoagh
EXPRESS BUZZ
Gnat aircraft likely to be repaired soon


The Gnat aircraft in front of the Nehru Bal Bhavan, Thrissur.
Athul Lal A G
07 Nov 2008

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One of the Gnat aircraft which effectively gained India air supremacy in the Indo-Pak War of 1965, will soon get a rebirth.

The aircraft, displayed in front of the Nehru Bal Bhavan in Thrissur, will be repaired soon if the authorities give nod for a proposal submitted by an NRI entrepreneur.

Richard Menon, a US-based entrepreneur and a native of Thrissur, has come up with a unique project for renovating the aircraft, which is at present in an ill-maintained state.

“In August, Richard had submitted a project to renovate the airplane and make it in a running condition. The project is presently under the consideration of the 32-member managing committee of the Nehru Bal Bhavan which includes the District Collector and the District Panchayat President," said C.R. Das, Bal Bhavan executive director.

“We are interested in the project as it would benefit the children a lot. A final decision regarding this will be taken at the managing committee meeting to be held on November 7," he added.

Richard Menon, an avid airplane enthusiast, is the CEO of the Aero-Sports US, a US-based aero-modelling company, which has just launched a model airplane factory in Thiruvananthapuram.

Having seen the plight of the Gnat aircraft at the Bala Bhavan several years ago, Richard decided to renovate the aircraft and preserve it as a memorial.

The Folland Gnat is a British Aircraft that was inducted into the Indian Air Force just before the 1965 Indo-Pak War.


***

A search for Richard Menon shows up some --- "x-rated results'!!!!!
http://www.southside.in/289/Want-to-make-a-porn-film-Richard-Menon
Can you tell anything about your future projects?
Well! my next project will be an Hindi/English Film on the famous cricket player “Ranji”. I hope to follow that up with a film on Mukesh/Rafi/Kishore Kumar. P*** is not the only thing I am engaged in. My museum devoted to Radio Controlled Model Planes, Trains, Ships etc is scheduled for an opening in late 2008 in Trichur. It will be dedicated to the Indian Army, Navy and Air force.
Where do you visualize being 5 years from now?
I plan to be running the Museum in India. Also want to teach Commerce in a Tutorial College.


www.pentafilms.com/contact.htm


***
http://tinyurl.com/588cao
EXPRESS BUZZ


A view of the production unit of the Aero-Sports.US at Thirumala/Athul Lal A.G.Athul Lal A.G.
First Published : 04 Nov 2008
04 Nov 2008

ATTENTION prospective pilots and Indonauts. Here is good news.

Aero-sports.US, a US-based aero-modelling company run by a Malayali, is setting up its base in the State to fit wings to your dreams.

The company, through its 14 franchisees across the State, intends to provide Control/Line (C/L) and Radio-Controlled aeromodelling programmes for students of 10th standard to college classes. For this purpose, Aero-sports.US has set up a modern, state-of-the-art model airplane design and assembly plant at Valiyavila, near Thirumala, in Thiruvananthapuram.

``Aero-sports.US will remain as the mother organisation of all the franchisees. We will not provide training or supply equipment directly to the public. Instead, we will engage 14 franchisees across the State for a modest franchisee fee and provide them with model airplanes, accessories, spares, CDs, technical support and so on,’’ said Richard Menon, a native of Thrissur, who is the CEO of Aero-sports.US.

``These franchisees will conduct control line (C/L) aeromodelling classes in schools/colleges, teach individuals to build and fly C/L Aeromodels as a hobby and sport, organise and conduct a Model Aviation Flying Club and sell our various products,’’ Richard said.

The company will also give training to the people whom the franchisees select as the trainers. ``At first, each franchise will appoint five men as their trainers and we would give them proper training in aeromodelling,’’ said Richard, who is also the International Business Manager of the aeromodelling magazine ‘Aeromodelling Today’, published by the Delhi Institute of Aeromodelling.

For the 51-year-old Richard and 32-year-old Vinod Madhavan, the Production Manager of Aero-sports.US, the setting up of such an aeromodelling company is a dream-come-true. Till 2007, they did not know each other, but both of them had the same vision. Their tryst might have been decided by destiny. And it happened, thanks to the internet.

``While Richard saw my name in a newspaper report on an aeromodelling camp held at Akkulam some years ago, he contacted me and said that he likes to start an aeromodelling company so that it can help the common man to gain some knowledge about airplanes and can provide some job opportunities at the same time,’’ said Vinod Madhavan, an avid airplane enthusiast hailing from PTP Nagar in the city.

``For students, it is very difficult to become an aeromodeller as it is a very costly subject. They cannot afford the initial investment required for buying the kit for making a model. Moreover, there is no shop in Kerala which sells model airplanes. One should go to Chennai or Bangalore to get the models. And the only way to know something about aeromodelling is to become an NCC Air Wing cadet,’’ said Vinod, who had worked as a instructor of aeromodelling in NCC.

``Through our project, the students will get a greater understanding of what really an aircraft is like. With the models, they can touch, feel and see what aeroplanes are and by making them, the students can learn about construction of these complex magnificent flying machines,’’ Richard said.

``Moreover, with these exercises, the students can also learn about various forms of engines and can get some basic knowledge on avionics, aeronautics and mechanics of the flying machines,’’ he said.

According to Richard, the 14 franchisees of the company will start functioning within 45 days. And the construction of control line airplanes is taking place in its factory at Thirumala. ``Ultimately, we would like to promote aeromodelling in India in a big way. Our plan is to start 1,000 similar C/L and Radio-Controlled flying clubs within one year. This will also provide job opportunities to the youngsters interested in model aviation and business,’’ he said.

The company also aims to sponsor one deserving C/L aeromodeller each year to participate in the world aeromdelling competitions held in the US each year.

``Hopefully, one day we can produce a winner who will make our country proud,’’ Richard said.
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