Short Sealand

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SHORT SEALAND

The Short Sealand has a special place in the heart of Indian Naval Aviation. The type was the first aircraft to be inducted after the establishment of the Directorate of Naval Aviation and training of Indian Naval aviators. An order for ten of these amphibians was placed in 1952, in a contract that was worth £ 320,000. The Sealands built for the Indian Navy had up-rated Gipsy Queen engines, dual controls and extra tankage to give it an endurance of six hours. The first Short Sealand [INS-101] was handed over on 13 January 1953. The aircraft arrived in due course of time by February 1953. The last of the Sealands arrived in October 1953. The FRU (Fleet Requirements Unit) was commissioned on 11 March 1953 on the Sealand under the command of Lieutenant Commander Y N Singh. The FRU used to operate from Cochin's airfield at Willingdon Island, then known as INS Venduruthy II which was soon rechristened as INS Garuda. The Sealand was in service for ten years until 1963, when it was phased out as more newer aircraft were inducted in service. It is believed at least one Sealand was lost in an accident during the period. The aircraft was phased out in 1965, after just over 12 years of service. Today a lone Sealand [INS-106] survives and is on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Dabolim, Goa. This Sealand was first noted on display at the Nehru Bal Bhavan in Trivandrum, Kerala. It was later moved to NIAT (Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology) in Kochi (Cochin) and then restored for display at the museum in Goa.