March 28, 2024
    Gireesh Kumar reports a rare HAL HJT-16 Kiran trainer on public view at the Akulam Park near the Southern Air Command HQ at Trivandrum.

A HAL HJT-16 Kiran trainer has been reported in the Akulam Lake Park, just opposite the southern air command HQ in Thiruvanathapuram. Gireesh Kumar took these two photographs showing Kiran U-780 pole mounted – and in a Surya Kiran’s Paint scheme. This is only the third preserved Kiran aircraft, and the first one on public land.

The SKAT paint scheme is spurious – as no Mark 1 aircraft ever served with the Surya Kirans.  U-780 has not been noted before.

U780 02

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