When aircrafts took to the Madras skies on metal wings
The article chronicles the history of aviation in Madras, starting from early demonstration flights in 1910 to the establishment of the Madras Flying Club. It highlights key figures and milestones, including the first Indian woman pilot, Usha Sundaram.
Why it matters
It documents the pioneering spirit of early aviation in India and the city's role in the development of civil and private flight.
I have always wondered as to when precisely air travel facilities began in Madras. The maiden flight by D’Angelis in 1910 is well known, and he had his hangar in Pallavaram. None other than Subramania Bharathi wrote of the engine for this aircraft being assembled by Tamil workers at Simpsons’ factory.
In 1911, Jules Tyck undertook demonstration flights at Island Grounds. It is said he took people over George Town and Mount Road. And in 1914, J.W. Madeley flew in an assembled aircraft over the Red Hills reservoir to assess the work. It is ironic that a man who flew is remembered in a subway.
And with that, we were formally airborne, so to speak. If we were to overlook military, civil, and commercial flight history, and just focus on private initiative in our city, we would still have an impressive story.
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