By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The former CM Biju Patnaik had used this Dokata plane to rescue the then Prime Minister of Indonesia Sutan Sjahrir in 1947, even though , it was not in use since then, and parked in unused condition, the aircraft still enjoys popularity in Odisha , which was evident from fact that after a large gathering was seen on Wednesday in Capital City of Bbubaneswar, when it arrived in dismantle condition by road on three trailers from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.
The vehicles carrying the aircraft entered the Odisha border through Laxmanath Gate in Balasore on Wednesday morning and from where it was escorted by Odisha police during transportation to Bhubaneswar. Many were seen taking selfies with the giant plane along the way. At many places, people also paid floral tributes to the aircraft in the honour of Biju Patnaik.
After arriving in Bhubaneswar, it has been placed as a memorial at the airport named after Biju Patnaik. It will be assembled at State government’s hanger in the airport. The historical aircraft had been lying in a dilapidated condition for decades at the airport in Kolkata.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already allotted 1.1 acres of land where the Dakota plane will be displayed for public viewing.
Officials at Odisha’s commerce and transport department said that a four-member team has been assigned to dismantle the Dakota (DC-3) VT-AUI aircraft, which is about 64 feet 8 inches long with its wings stretching to 95 feet.
The team will restore, reassemble and do the renovation work at the airport here, the officials said.
Biju Patnaik, had set up Kalinga Airlines that operated from Kolkata. The private airline operated nearly a dozen airplanes, including Dakotas. The aircraft, which is 64 feet and 8 inches long, with its wings stretching to 95 feet, had to dismantled for transportation by road to Bhubaneswar from the Kolkata airport.
