| Vintage Aircraft Flight | |
| Tigermoth | HU 512 |
| Spitfire | NH 631 |
| Harvard | HT 291 |
| Vampire | IB 799 |
| Gnat | E 265 |
| HAL HT-2 | IX 732 |
| C-47 Dakota | IJ 302 |
As in vogue with other Air Forces of the World, the Indian Air Force Museum maintains a Vintage Aircraft Flight, consisting of some single examples of aircraft maintained in an airworthy condition. "Newer" aircraft are added to this flight as aircraft are phased out from the regular inventory of the Air Force. The Idea to maintain airworthy examples of aircraft went back to the late fifties when it was decided that there should be a flyable version of a Spitfire to commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of the IAF. Accordingly a derelict Spitfire Mk VIII was rescued from the scrapyard at No.1 BRD at Kanpur and restored to flying condition under the supervision of the legendary Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh.
Since then, the flight has grown with the addition of further aircraft as they were retired. The last such addition has been on the occasion of the phasing out of the Ajeet from No.2 Squadron. The last Ajeet was flown to the Museum on 31st March 91 by the commanding officer to Palam all the way from Kalaikunda and presented to the flight.
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The Indian Air Force Vintage Aircraft Flight. |
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Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIIIe NH631 The sole flying Spitfire of the IAF's Vintage Aircraft Flight buzzes the podium at Low Level during its last public flight in Air Force Day 1989 (Photo Courtesy : Arun Sharma) |
| Ten years later during the Air Force Day 1999, The Spitfire is towed past the podium. The last known ground runs took place sometime in the early Nineties. (Photo Courtesy : Simon Watson and Phil Camp ) |  |
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De Havilland DH82a Tigermoth A single example of the Tigermoth trainer which was retired in 1959 forms part of the Vintage Aircraft Flight. (Photo Courtesy : Peter Steinmann) |
| North American Harvard - HT 291 The Harvard HT 291 painted in bright yellow is towed past the dais during Republic Day 1998. (Photo Courtesy : Sainik Samachar) |
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De Havilland DH100 Vampire FB 52 Powered by the Rolls Royce Goblin Engine, IB 799 is another ex airworthy aircraft of the flight. (Photo Courtesy :Phil Camp) |
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Douglas C-47 Dakota IJ 302 The Vintage flight also has the last flyable Dakota in the IAF . IJ302 is painted a bright yellow. This aircraft was not seen flying in public demonstrations, but is believed to be maintained in airworthy condition by the Vintage Flight (Photo Courtesy : Simon Watson and Phil Camp ) |
| Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HT-2
IX 732 Another example of the HT-2 is maintained in Flying condition by the Vintage Aircraft Flight. IX-732 is seen here at a Republic day parade 1998. (Photo Courtesy : Hindustan Times) |
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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Ajeet (Gnat Mk.2) E-265 The third example of the Gnat in the Museum is with the vintage flight . E-265 is an Ajeet maintained in flying trim by the Vintage Aircraft Flight. It arrived in 1991. [Pic Courtesy - Peter Steinemann / Air Forces Monthly) |