First man who landed in Mangalore: Airport is fine His first passenger was Indian Prime Minister Mr Nehru
May 26, 2010 08:04 IST
[image: Wing Commander V P Hegde]*War hero Vonthibettu Prabhakar Hegde made
the first-ever landing in Mangalore, 59 years ago. His passenger: India 's
first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru . He tells Rajul Hegde the airport is
tricky but not unsafe.*
War hero and pioneering aviator Vonthibettu* *Prabhakar Hegde won't forget
December 25, 1951, for as long as he lives.
On that day the retired wing commander, now a spry 84, then an air force
flight lieutenant, flew India first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the
first-ever flight to Mangalore airport (then called Bajpe Aerodrome) on a
DC-3 (Dakota).
Talking about the maiden flight from his home in Bangalore , Wing Commander
Hegde told *us,* "When I landed for the first time at Bajpe, they were just
digging and levelling the hill to build the runway. So it was just a
non-tarmac, level ground, there was no airport as such. But the DC-3 is a
small aircraft and it was easy for me to land it."
On being asked Nehru's observation or if he commented on the airport or the
landing, he said, "He would not comment on the technicalities of the flight
or landing because he knew we were experienced. He just shook hands and
thanked us after the landing."
He adds, "Nehru came to campaign for India 's first democratic elections.
There was hardly any equipment at the airport to help during the landing. It
was not difficult for me to land on a table-top 'runway' because I was
experienced in flying to Kashmir , which had a similar airport."
When asked about Saturday's air crash in Mangalore, he says, "This talk
about it being a dangerous or unsuitable airport has no basis. The airport
has functioned without a major mishap for nearly six decades. It just cannot
suddenly become a 'dangerous' airport. If anything advances in technology
and equipment has only made flying safer."
The veteran aviator says, "The plane could have crashed due to an error of
judgment while landing. Or it's possible the captain allowed the co-pilot,
who was also experienced, to land. Something must have gone wrong and before
they could act or correct it, the plane must have crashed. Now they have
recovered the black box and I hope they get more information and causes of
the crash will be clear."
When asked if landing in Mangalore is difficult, he said, "I don't think so.
But yes it is a tricky airport because it's a table-top and doesn't have
flat ground around it. But experienced pilots can land easily on table-top
airports."
Wing Commander Hegde flew for the Indian Air Force for 24 years and retired
in 1968. He was awarded the Vir Chakra, India 's third-highest gallantry
award, for outstanding services rendered as an IAF squadron leader during
the Kashmir operations in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947.
*Image: Wing Commander V Prabhakar Hegde when in service | Photograph
courtesy: Geeta Shetty*
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With best wishes
S Chander
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