Iconic Dakota aircraft unveiled at Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar for public display

By Sukanta Kumar Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, March 5: Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik on Sunday unveiled the reconstructed Dakota aircraft flown by his legendary father and former CM Biju Patnaik at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here in the city for public display.

The Dakota aircraft, a member of his father’s fleet of planes that served the nation under the banner of Kalinga Airlines in the 1940S, was lying abandoned in Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

After the Odisha government decided to bring the vintage aircraft back to the state, it was dismantled into three parts for convenience of transportation. On January 8, it was brought from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar by three trailers.

A group of engineers were engaged to reconstruct and reassemble the plane for installation at the airport here to convey the message of its historic value and the valour and courage of Biju Patnaik.

The aircraft was originally 64 feet and 8 inches long, with its wings stretching to 95 feet.

Biju Patnaik, besides being a social reformer and politician, was also a highly skilled pilot who flew planes and undertook high-risk missions ahead of the country’s Independence.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had given its ‘go-ahead’ to build a memorial near the statue of Biju Patnaik outside the Bhubaneswar airport as a mark of tribute to the iconic leader.

According to researcher and historian Anil Dhir, all the planes of Kalinga Airlines were used for ferrying troops to Srinagar and carrying army equipment during the Kashmir Operation in 1947-48.

Former CM Biju Patnaik, who was known for his daredevilry act as a pilot, had formed the Kalinga Airline in 1947. The airline had 15 Dakota planes parked at its Kolkata headquarters.

Kalinga Airline’s DC-3 aircrafts were also used to drop supplies at the north-eastern area of the country and provide services to the army personnel in the north-east area of the country.

Biju Patnaik came to limelight after he rescued former Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Hatta and Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir from the Dutch enemies on July 22, 1947.

Later, the Indonesia government acknowledged his contribution by honouring Biju Babu with ‘Bhumi Putra’ title for his chivalry.

The Dakotas had many affectionate nicknames. The Americans called it the Gooney Bird, Old Fatso, Skytrooper, Placid Plodder, Dizzy Three and Tabby.

While the British airmen called it the “Dak,” the Royal Canadian Air Force called them “The Flying Elephants.” The French called it, “The Beast.”

Biju Patnaik, like many other pilots, used the term “Gooney Bird.”