SLAF Museum, a nostalgic memory

It is a magnificent spectacle:

Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The ‘Pucara’ - still holding its valour

LTTE missile launchers used against the SLAF.

From the ‘Tiger Moth’ to the ‘Balliol’ and the ‘Auster’, from the ‘SIAI Machetti’ to ‘Pucaras’ and to jets - the wings of the Sri Lanka Air Force that protected our skies since early ‘50s stand with solemn pride, carrying distinctive stories representing different chapters of the Sri Lankan aviation history at the newly opened Sri Lanka Air Force Museum at the Ratmalana SLAF base.

Novel experience

The museum is receiving a large crowd of enthusiastic spectators daily and on the day of our visit over 500 schoolchildren from different schools in outstations as well as in Colombo were present. Most of the children were from primary classes and were peeping into the cockpits, running under the wings thoroughly enjoying and sizzling in excitement in their marvellous world of flying machines!

Year 3 and 4 students of Dharmasena Attygala Balika Vidyalaya, Kesbewa had visited the museum last Thursday and over 500 spectators were visiting the museum during the morning hours alone. “Our children may not be able to understand all that is technical but the museum is a novel experience for them giving a different exposure as many have not closely seen an aircraft,” an English Teacher, A.T.C. Kumari who accompanied the little girls, told us. Another group of primary students from the Yoshida International School in Sapugaskanda were also visiting the museum. “My husband is an Air Force Officer and as he told me I found it very interesting to the students,” said Hansika Perera, the Teacher-in-Charge of the Primary section.

The legendary Auster and the map of its return route

The magnificent Dakota Pix - Iresha Waduge

It is a gigantic source of knowledge to those who aspire to become experts in aviation and aeronautical engineering. It is a source of enjoyment and enthusiasm for all age groups!

The Air Force is willing to share the technical know-how in aviation with students in the higher education stream. “We can arrange lectures with all details, especially for students in aviation if they contact us before hand,” Squadron Leader Rashika Jinadasa said.

Enduring airworthiness

Most of the aircraft are not just artifacts, said Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Malinda Perera. “They are in perfect airworthy condition. And some aircraft are there in their original condition,” he said. In fact, two Chipmunks, a Tiger Moth, SIAI Machetti and the Centenary-X flew at the grand opening of the refurbished SLAF museum on November 5.

The Bell 47 G-2

The two De Havilland Chipmunk T Marks - fondly known as the Chipmunks - were flown by Wing Commander Shehan Fernando, Commanding Officer of the SLAF No.10 Squadron (Kfirs) and Wing Commander Dhammika Welikadapola, a well-versed pilot of the No. 2 squadron. These aircraft, built by the De Havilland Aircraft Company in England, were designed to succeed the De Havilland ‘Tiger Moth’ powered by a single De Havilland Gipsy Major series 10 MK2 engine. The Chipmunk DBH T Mark 10s were the first aircraft purchased by the Air Force in 1951 and a total of 12 Chipmunks were inducted.

A few of the oldest uniforms worn in 1947 and early 1950s

The single engine De Havilland DH 82, A ‘Tiger Moth’, the great oldie of the Sri Lankan aviation history was introduced to the world in 1937. The SLAF flew the great ‘oldie’, which is in fully airworthy condition at the grand opening day, since her last flight in 1993. Squadron Leader Prasanna Kuruwita, a well experienced pilot of the No. 2 Squadron flew the Great Oldie successfully.

Flying the ‘Tiger Moth’, one of the two existing in the world in original and airworthy condition, was a great challenge to the Air Force. There wasn’t a single experienced pilot in the Air Force to fly the ‘Tiger Moth’. Squadron Leader Kuruwita, who is flying the AN 32 transporting aircraft at present, found it a great challenge, yet he studied the aircraft on his own with downloaded manuals and self experience. “This was a very basic type of an aircraft with a limited number of instruments, no brakes and no rear wheels, just a glider is available to stop the moving aircraft on ground,” Sqn. Ldr. Kuruwita said. Yet, their efforts eventually succeeded due to commitment and dedication. “The aircraft was in perfect condition and the engine operated smoothly,” the pilot said with great satisfaction over his success.

Sqaudron Leader Kuruwita thrilled over his flight on the Great Oldie

Children from Suriyawewa School Embilipitiya, climbing down the Dakota

The SIAI Machetti was flown by Sqn. Ldr. Tharindu Senasinghe and Sqd. Ldr. Chandana Rathnayake at the inauguration ceremony. The SIAI Machetti SF 260 TP is a trainer aircraft which was also used as an attack aircraft. “This is the first aircraft to be used with armaments in the Sri Lanka Air Force,” Sqn.Ldr. Malinda Perera, Commanding Officer of the Museum said, referring to the history of the SLAF. They played a vital role in providing close air support to the ground forces during the first Eelam war. Powered by a 313 kW ‘Allison 250 - B 17 D’ Turboprop engine, the SF 260 TPs were manufactured by SIAI Machetti and first flown in July 1980.

The experimental ultralight aircraft, Centenary X, designed by a team of engineering experts of the SLAF was an eye-catcher at the opening day of the museum when Wing Commander Waruna Senaratne flew it over the Ratmalana SLAF base. He is the pilot who flew the aircraft for the first time in 2003.

The museum not only holds historical records of the SLAF but preserves the golden moments of the Sri Lankan aviation history. The Auster Mk V J/I ‘Autocrat’, a light aircraft built in England, now at this museum made history due to the courage and determination of the great Sri Lankan the Late James Peter Obeysekara! His flight from Marshalls in Cambridge to Ceylon created history as the first solo flight. Young Obeysekara faced difficulties in returning home and his solution was to buy an aircraft and fly home.

A Chipmunk on display

It was soon after the end of World War II and no air or sea passage was available for civilians to travel. Starting its journey on October 5, 1946 the Auster reached Ceylon on November 13 and had 30 stopovers in its 103 hour and 30 minute flying time including Eastleigh in Southampton, Deanville, Le Buorget in Paris, Lyons, Nice, Tunis, Castel Arch, Mersa Matruh, Cairo, Baghdad, Basra, Sharjah, Karachi, and Ahmedabad to name a few.

Fighters

In later years, the Auster was handed over to the Ceylon Air Academy and got completely destroyed on March 11, 1971 when it caught fire upon crashing after taking off from Ratmalana airport. The SLAF accepted the challenge in rebuilding it as a static exhibit.

From the SIAI Machettis to Pucaras and to MiGs, Kfirs and F7 - the great warriors of our skies stand in line! The Pucaras were introduced into the SLAF fleet in 1992 at a time when the war was at a peak.

The Balliol with its ‘V’ type engine

Named after the ancient South American ‘Inca’ Fortress by its manufacturers, the Pucara still holds its magnificent strength and power that dealt a severe blow to LTTE terrorism before it gained the Surface to Air missile power.

The significance of Kfirs, MiGs and F7s in the strategy to eliminate terrorism from this island nation forever is inestimable.

The hanger in which the aircraft are exhibited is one of the two first built during Royal Ceylon Air Force era. They had to be removed as the new Bandaranaike International Airprot runway was planned.

After dismantling the two, one hanger was brought to Ratmalana. The importance of having a permanent museum as seen by the Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilake was realised when the museum was modernized after closing the old one in 2008.

The strength and the courage of our brave pilots, coupled with the expertise and creativity of the technical and engineering staff of the SLAF are visible in every corner of this fascinating place! Bringing honour and pride to the motherland these ‘giants’ continue to be a living memory to our lost warriors and the wounded.