Naval Aircraft Museum (Kolkata): Difference between revisions

{{Not to be confused with|Naval Aviation Museum (India)}}{{Infobox museum

}}The '''Naval Aircraft Museum''' is an under construction military [[aviation museum]] located in [[New Town, Kolkata|New Town]], [[Kolkata]], India. It is built by [[Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority]] and will exhibit a [[Tupolev Tu-142]] of [[Indian Navy]].

The initiative for a military museum was taken by [[Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority]] (KMDA). It is second museum of its kind in the country, after [[Visakhapatnam]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vizag: Indian Navy aircraft turned museum attracts visitors|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/vizag-indian-navy-aircraft-turned-museum-attracts-visitors201804020322100001/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref> [[West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation]] (HIDCO) wants to build attraction zones at each leg of [[Kolkata Gate]]. So, a two-acre land that was chosen by HIDCO near the gate. After completion, KMDA will handover the museum to HIDCO.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=India|first=Press Trust of|date=2020-02-15|title=Tupolev 142 plane to be set up at naval aircraft museum|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/tupolev-142-plane-to-be-set-up-at-naval-aircraft-museum-120021501186_1.html|access-date=2021-08-01}}</ref> The museum is being built in phases. The first phase was clearing and flattening the land,<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|title=Navy may offer Sea Harrier fighter jet for aircraft museum in Kolkata|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/navy-may-offer-sea-harrier-fighter-jet-for-aircraft-museum-in-kolkata/articleshow/72348825.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2021-08-02}}</ref> erecting the foundation, reassembly and installation of the aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|last=PTI|date=2021-08-02|title=Bengal FM writes to Sitharaman against privatisation of insurance cos|url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/bengal-fm-writes-to-sitharaman-against-privatisation-of-insurance-cos-448559|access-date=2021-08-02|website=www.millenniumpost.in|language=en}}</ref> The next phase includes identification of an architect to design the layout of the museum.<ref name=":3" /> Initially, the opening of the museum was expected by mid-2020, but it was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal|COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[COVID-19 lockdown in India|lockdown]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2020-02-15|title=Tupolev aircraft arrives in Kolkata, will be installed at India’s second naval museum|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/tupolev-aircraft-arrives-in-kolkata-will-be-installed-at-india-s-second-naval-museum-2264418.html|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tupolov aircraft for India's second naval museum arrives in Kolkata|url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tupolov-aircraft-for-indias-second-naval-museum-arrives-in-kolkata-280859|access-date=2021-08-02|website=WION|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=15 Feb 2020|title=Tupolev 142 plane to be set up at naval aircraft museum|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/tupolev-142-plane-to-be-set-up-at-naval-aircraft-museum/1735295|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-02|website=outlookindia.com}}</ref>  

A decommissioned, 29 year old, [[Tupolev Tu-142]] of [[Indian Navy]] was handed over to the [[Government of West Bengal]] in February 2020, for setting up the aircraft museum. The aircraft was brought from [[INS Rajali]], [[Arakkonam]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], in pieces on sixteen trucks.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-12-10|title=West Bengal to get its first aircraft museum in Kolkata, second in India|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/101217/west-bengal-to-get-its-first-aircraft-museum-in-kolkata-second-in-india.html|access-date=2021-07-31|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref> Transportation and installation costs are being borne by the state government.<ref name=":4" /> Reassembly process of the aircraft was started by KMDA, in March 2020.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2020-02-17|title=Indian Navy aircraft arrives in city, to be soon put up at naval museum|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/indian-navy-aircraft-arrives-city-soon-put-naval-museum-1502856886.html|access-date=2021-08-02|website=The Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Other exhibits for its interior and surroundings like a mannequin pilot, bombs, machinery etc. will be developed by the Navy.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />