Visakhapatnam, Dec 7 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovindtoday inaugurated the Naval Maritime Aircraft Museum here,featuring the maritime patrol aircraft Tupolev-142M, whichserved the Navy for almost three decades.
The museum, located at the famous Beach Road, willfeature the reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraftwhich was decommissioned in March this year.
With four engines and eight propellers, the TU-142 wasthe most formidable aircraft in the world while in service, anofficial said. The Soviet era aircraft had an accident-freerecord and served in various operations including the Kargilwar, he added.
The Andhra Pradesh government spent Rs 10 crore overfour months for the museum project, the official said, addingthe Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority will look afterthe museum.
As the city is prone to cyclones, special provisions,like erection of toughened glass shields to prevent damage tothe aircraft and corrosion, have been made, the official said.
"The museum will recreate the entire set-up of theaircraft while in operation, including places for pilots,observers, equipment and weapons. One will get an actual feelof the aircraft like when it was in service," Flag OfficerCommanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command, Vice AdmiralKarambir Singh said.
‘The Hunter’, as the TU-142M was called, and ‘TheHunted’ (submarine INS Kursura) are now on either side of theBeach Road, near the 'Victory at Sea' memorial. INS Kursura isa decommissioned submarine that was converted into a museum.
Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N ChandrababuNaidu, Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju and Navychief Admiral Sunil Lanba were present.
The President, the Supreme Commander of the ArmedForces, will tomorrow visit the Command headquarters here andpresent the Presidential Colours to the Submarine Arm of theNavy that is celebrating its golden jubilee year. PTI DBV BNMVTVTBNM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.