Dakota Planes History: Former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik’s ‘Dakota’ aircraft lying in dilapidated condition at Kolkata airport for decades can reach Odisha on January 16. Biju Patnaik used to use this aircraft. Historian Anil Dhir told that the former Chief Minister had used this aircraft in 1947 to safely evacuate the then Prime Minister of Indonesia, Sutan Sajharir.
On Wednesday, a four-member technical team at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport in Kolkata will start disassembling the aircraft’s parts and will take it to Odisha by road.
Who was Biju Patnaik
The aircraft will be kept at a designated place at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here. Biju Patnaik was the father of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Dakota is a military transport aircraft. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has allotted 1.1 acres of land, where the Dakota aircraft will be kept for public viewing.
how big is the dakota plane
Odisha’s commerce and transport department officials said the Dakota aircraft is about 64 feet, 8 inches long and has a wingspan of 95 feet. Officials said a technical team would carry out the work of reassembling and repairing the aircraft at the airport here.
‘Secret mission’ was executed
The historian said that apart from being a social reformer and politician, Biju Patnaik was a skilled pilot who carried out high-risk missions. He said that Biju Patnaik had secretly transported Indian freedom fighters from one place to another through aircraft.
Establishment of Kalinga Airlines
Indonesia twice decorated Biju Patnaik with its highest civilian honor ‘Bhoomiputra’ for saving Sutan Sajharir. Before joining active politics, Biju Patnaik had established Kalinga Airlines which operated from Calcutta. He was also a member of the Royal Indian Air Force under the British rule.
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