AI Aircraft

Air-India Aircraft image gallery

Other Early Aircraft

Air-India International was formed in 1948 as a result of a collaboration between The Government of India and Air-India Ltd., an airline promoted by the Tata group. Air-India Ltd., itself was founded in 1932 as the Airline Division of Tata Sons Ltd., and was later operating as Tata Airlines Ltd., before renaming itself as Air-India Ltd. in 1946. Let us look at some of the early airplanes they used, and some other early airplanes of Air-India International as well.

An advertisement in the Illustrated London News shows images of various planes these airlines used between 1932 and 1960. View more images of some of these airplanes by clicking the button below.

Other Early Aircraft Gallery

Lockheed Constellation L-749

Left: VT-CQR Rajput Princess at London. 1948; Right: VT-DAR Maratha Princess flying over Lake Geneva

Lockheed Constellation L-749 image gallery

Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

Air-India V2-LEK - L-1011 TriStar 500

lockheed L-1011 TriStar Image Gallery

Lockheed Super Constellation L-1049

Air-India's first Lockheed Super Constellation L-1049 (VT-DGL) Empress Nurjehan, later renamed Rani of Jhansi.
Acquired on 6 June 1954

Air-India's second Lockheed Super Constellation L-1049 (VT-DGM) Rani of Ind.
Acquired on 30 July 1954
Photograph taken at Bombay Airport shows the graceful Super Constellation with the crew that brought her to India on the maiden voyage. There is a fair amount of discussion on the internet as to whether Air-India actually named an airplane Rani of Ind, but I guess this picture puts the matter at rest.

Lockheed Super Constellation L-1049 image gallery

DC-3