aerospace museum
July 6, 2003
First Aerospace Museum in Mumbai
Mumbai will soon have an aerospace hall. This will trace thehistory of flight even before the days of Wright brothers. Aunique aerospace hall, being developed at the Nehru Science Centreat Worli in Mumbai and would be inaugurated later this yearcommemorating 100 years of powered-flight by Wright Brothers. Tobe known as 'Hall of Aerospace', it will trace the history offlight from the experiments on kites -- the forerunners ofaircraft to man conquering space.
The Nehru Science Centre, which is one of the biggestscience museums in Asia, would request President Dr A P J AbdulKalam, who himself is a distinguished missile and aeronauticsscientist.
"The museum is in the final stages of completion and wewill request Dr Kalam to inaugurate it," Centre's Director G SRautele said. On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright flewthe first powered flight, which revolutionised the aviationindustry. "Since it would be 100 years of powered flight thisyear, we thought it must be opened this year," he said. The aerospace hall, which is spread over an area of 7,000 sqmts, is being developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 3.5crore. Nehru Science Centre's Publication Officer P K Basu saidthat the static display of real aircraft and helicopters, theaerospace hall, will include aviation and space history exhibits,archival records, personal memorablis, oral history, photographs,films and biographical files.
Nehru Science Centre's Curator (Mech) A D Choudhury saidthat the centre is taking the help of Indian Institute ofTechnology, Powai, Indian Women Pilots' Association, Indian SpaceResearch Organisation, Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltdand other agencies to complete the project which would be thefirst of its kind in Asia.
"The concept or phenomenon of basic science which havebecome a raw material of inventions are not easily accessible orunderstood by direct observation, but science centres or museumcould popularise these concepts for propogating the wonders ofscience," says Rautela, a leading science promotion expert in thecountry. He said that the 'Hall of Aerospace' would be one of thebest in the world.
Mr Basu adds that the museums are centres of science arenot only places of exhibiting relics of past and posterity, butthey contribute construtively to supplement science education inschools and colleges. He said that the Centre is visited by fivelakh visitors annually. Aviation and space technology has made major advances since the Wright Brothers's plane in terms of engine, fuel efficiency, power, speed, duration of flight, design, navigation, safety and maneouvering, said Mr Chaudhury. He said that space technology had made unparalled scientifiec and technological advances that have transformed the world in the field as diverse as communication, weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, resource mapping and transportation.
"Scientists and engineers amalmagated imagination and technology to produce a stream of aerospace innovations, beneficial to mankind. Unfortunately most of us know very little or the understand these extraordinary feats on man. Therefore there is a need for a permanant facility to educate and enthuse the present generation, especially the youth about science and technology of aviation and space," adds Rautela.
Mr Rautela said that the news of the unique project has already generated a response and the world-renowned aviator Vijaypat Singhania, who is the chief Raymonds group, has donated his microlite aircraft with which he has entered the record books, for display at the centre. The centre has already a HAL HF-24 Marut in its possession besides a turbo jet engine and a 16-cylinder radial engine and parts of various aircraft.
Mr Chaudhury said that the museum would have 50 to 55 scaled models of aeroplanes that will be fabricated inhouse. "We have also written to various agencies across the country including the IAF to support the project by giving equipment or aircraft for display and we are receiving positive response," he said.
Mr Basu said that the exhibition would focus on younger generation to help them capture some of the adventures and romance of early inventors in their attempt to fly and also to taken them along the path travelled by those who made adventure of flying and space exploration their passion incorporating the state-of-the-art technology.
Sharing details of the aerospace hall, he said that the exhibition would be spread in six sections : -- Indian and World Mythology of Aviation, History of Aviation, Perception of Flights, Essentials of Flights, Flying Machines and Space Technology.
First Aerospace Museum in Mumbai
Mumbai will soon have an aerospace hall. This will trace thehistory of flight even before the days of Wright brothers. Aunique aerospace hall, being developed at the Nehru Science Centreat Worli in Mumbai and would be inaugurated later this yearcommemorating 100 years of powered-flight by Wright Brothers. Tobe known as 'Hall of Aerospace', it will trace the history offlight from the experiments on kites -- the forerunners ofaircraft to man conquering space.
The Nehru Science Centre, which is one of the biggestscience museums in Asia, would request President Dr A P J AbdulKalam, who himself is a distinguished missile and aeronauticsscientist.
"The museum is in the final stages of completion and wewill request Dr Kalam to inaugurate it," Centre's Director G SRautele said. On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright flewthe first powered flight, which revolutionised the aviationindustry. "Since it would be 100 years of powered flight thisyear, we thought it must be opened this year," he said. The aerospace hall, which is spread over an area of 7,000 sqmts, is being developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 3.5crore. Nehru Science Centre's Publication Officer P K Basu saidthat the static display of real aircraft and helicopters, theaerospace hall, will include aviation and space history exhibits,archival records, personal memorablis, oral history, photographs,films and biographical files.
Nehru Science Centre's Curator (Mech) A D Choudhury saidthat the centre is taking the help of Indian Institute ofTechnology, Powai, Indian Women Pilots' Association, Indian SpaceResearch Organisation, Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltdand other agencies to complete the project which would be thefirst of its kind in Asia.
"The concept or phenomenon of basic science which havebecome a raw material of inventions are not easily accessible orunderstood by direct observation, but science centres or museumcould popularise these concepts for propogating the wonders ofscience," says Rautela, a leading science promotion expert in thecountry. He said that the 'Hall of Aerospace' would be one of thebest in the world.
Mr Basu adds that the museums are centres of science arenot only places of exhibiting relics of past and posterity, butthey contribute construtively to supplement science education inschools and colleges. He said that the Centre is visited by fivelakh visitors annually. Aviation and space technology has made major advances since the Wright Brothers's plane in terms of engine, fuel efficiency, power, speed, duration of flight, design, navigation, safety and maneouvering, said Mr Chaudhury. He said that space technology had made unparalled scientifiec and technological advances that have transformed the world in the field as diverse as communication, weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, resource mapping and transportation.
"Scientists and engineers amalmagated imagination and technology to produce a stream of aerospace innovations, beneficial to mankind. Unfortunately most of us know very little or the understand these extraordinary feats on man. Therefore there is a need for a permanant facility to educate and enthuse the present generation, especially the youth about science and technology of aviation and space," adds Rautela.
Mr Rautela said that the news of the unique project has already generated a response and the world-renowned aviator Vijaypat Singhania, who is the chief Raymonds group, has donated his microlite aircraft with which he has entered the record books, for display at the centre. The centre has already a HAL HF-24 Marut in its possession besides a turbo jet engine and a 16-cylinder radial engine and parts of various aircraft.
Mr Chaudhury said that the museum would have 50 to 55 scaled models of aeroplanes that will be fabricated inhouse. "We have also written to various agencies across the country including the IAF to support the project by giving equipment or aircraft for display and we are receiving positive response," he said.
Mr Basu said that the exhibition would focus on younger generation to help them capture some of the adventures and romance of early inventors in their attempt to fly and also to taken them along the path travelled by those who made adventure of flying and space exploration their passion incorporating the state-of-the-art technology.
Sharing details of the aerospace hall, he said that the exhibition would be spread in six sections : -- Indian and World Mythology of Aviation, History of Aviation, Perception of Flights, Essentials of Flights, Flying Machines and Space Technology.
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