Biju Patnaik’s Dakota Aircraft Enters Odisha Border

Bhubaneswar: The Dakota aircraft of former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik reached the state from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, today.

This morning, dismantled aircraft carried on three lorries crossed the Laxmannath Toll Plaza in Jaleswar of Balasore district. The process for transporting the aircraft started yesterday.

A team of ten members of Aerospace Research Development took 12 days to dismantle the aircraft and pack its equipment.

Notably, Biju Patnaik, a skilled pilot, had used a Dakota aircraft to rescue erstwhile Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Hatta and Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir in 1947. For this, the  Indonesian government had twice awarded Biju Patnaik with Bhumiputra – the highest civilian award of the country.

The former Chief Minister, before joining politics, had floated Kalinga Airlines which had a fleet of 15 Dakotas. The company had its headquarters in Kolkata. The airlines used to provide services to the Army for transporting jawans and airdropping supplies.