After 85 years, JRD’s Leopard Moth to take off again

New Delhi: Leopard Moth, the plane that Indian pioneer aviator and founder of Air India — Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (JRD) Tata flew from Karachi to Mumbai and later gifted to the headquarters of Aero Club of India at Safdarjung Airport in 1984 will soon be seen purring again. Air India chief Ashwani Lohani, who is credited with reviving the oldest working steam locomotive in the World, the 1855 built EIR 22 famously known as Fairy Queen, plans to make JRD’s cub flyable by 2017, which is also the 75th anniversary of Air India.

“We are looking to restore JRD Tata’s aircraf which is at the Are Club back to its original condition and recreate the the first flight from Mumbai to Karachi,” Mr Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director, Air India told this newspaper. However, given the “complex” relations between India and Pakistan, Air India has a Plan B ready, which is to fly it from Ahmedabad to Mumbai if the original plan doesn’t work. Famous business chief JRD Tata had in 1962 re-enacted his first flight from Karachi to Mumbai (then Bombay) for the airline’s 30th anniversary. In 1982, JRD flew the refurbished Leopard Moth once again along the same route to celebrate Air India’s 50th anniversary before he gifted it to the club in Delhi in 1984.

Mr Lohani who has executed various heritage projects during his earlier stint with the Railways is all set for another feather in his cap. While it takes a tremendous work to get a retired aircraft back to air, Air India has already chalked out a plan for making it possible. Indicating their interest to commemorate JRD’s flight, “cash starved” Air India has already approached Ratan Tata for his support to pump in money so that the plane his uncle flew is all set to take off again. Sources said that Mr Tata has shown interest in the idea.

“The restoration and refurbishing is estimated to cost around Rs 3 crores. The project was put on hold for a while as Air India, which is already a loss making company, could not support it. However, with Mr Tata showing some interest in the project, it seems feasible again. We are going to meet Mr Tata soon,” the source said.  

Aircraft refurbishing companies in the UK and US are being considered for the overhaul. If all goes as per plan, Air India will propose the first vintage flight next year.