Flying club in Bengal to give aero sports a boost

Kolkata: Few are aware that one of the first aviators from the state Biren Roy, who is said to have flown Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on several secret missions, was instrumental in setting up the first private flying club in Bengal. Now, one of his nephews, after an illustrious 39-year-old career in the Indian Air Force, has made plans to revive the club and inspire youngsters to take up flying, not only as a hobby but also a career.

The efforts of a dozen private and military aviators and aero-modellers helped get the Aero Sports Association of Bengal (ASAB) -with the motto ‘Fly to Freedom’ – formally registered in February, 2012. At the helm was Air Vice Marshal (retd) Madhusudan Banerjee, who retired as the Air Defence Commander of the IAF’s Western Air Command in January, 2010. Banerjee is credited to have flown former President APJ Abdul Kalam in a Su-30 in June, 2006. That was the first flight in a supersonic fighter jet for an Indian President.
“Biren Roy is my eldest maternal uncle and loved me as I took to flying. I joined the air wing of the NCC while studying at the Bangabasi College. It was during my NCC days that I took to aero-modelling. That is how many of us were attracted to flying. Today, there are limited facilities for youngsters in Kolkata. The ASAB plans to spread awareness, provide support and help youngsters from urban and rural Bengal to take up aero sports. Our ultimate aim is to rejuvenate the flying club in Behala with help from the state government and restart ‘power’ flying from there. We shall also try and get aero sports the status of a sport in the country,” Banerjee said.
13/04/12 Jayanta Gupta/Times of India