GK: Air India

Aloha Folks,

I am watching TV coverage of the mess that Air India finds itself in and I can’t help but marvel at how low it has sunk, there is actually talk of a “Lock Out”. Of course, given that this is not the first time that AI finds itself in such a situation we can be forgiven for forgetting the glorious history it has had.

And a great history it really did have. Air India was started as Tata Aviation Service on 15th October 1932 by JRD Tata. The initial purpose for starting the Air Lines was speeding up the mail but it gradually became a name to reckon with in international aviation circles.

I thought that now is as apt a time as possible for a quiz on Air India and that pioneering aviator, the great JRD.

Here goes….

1. 15th September 1932 was scheduled for the inaugural flight of Tata Aviation Service but was later postponed. Why was it postponed?

2. From which airport did the inaugural flight of the Tata Aviation Service take off?

3. JRD went to England and bought two Puss Moths (a type of aircraft) for Tata Airlines. He was supposed to fly one of them back to India but could not. How did he get them to India?

4. Air India International was formally incorporated on March 8th 1948 and June 8th 1948 saw the inaugural flight. What was the name of the aircraft?

5. A graduate in history from Oxford University he was responsible for conceptualising the Air India Maharajah. Who was he?

6. What was JRD’s Pilot License number?

Happy quizzing.

The usual boring requests, No Googling and answers in the Comments section.

Ciao