Notching up another first in the country, the city is on the verge of unveiling another unique tourist attraction with the inauguration of TU 142 Aircraft Museum by President Ram Nath Kovind on the Beach Road here on Thursday.
With hectic work still going on and number of workers milling around, the venue was a beehive of activity till late Wednesday evening.
The President will arrive at 4 p.m. and spend 15 minutes there, according to an official schedule.
VUDA Vice-Chairman P. Basanth Kumar said the President would spend 15 minutes at the museum complex divided into six zones concluding his visit with the audio-video room.
He said the work on the aircraft was taken up in two phases after the decommissioned Russian aircraft flew one last time to the city on April 8. The first phase of dismantling, transporting and assembling and placing the decommissioned aircraft on a pedestal was completed in the first phase. In the second, a museum complex with audio-video room, aerobridge, simulator and souvenir and coffee shop was taken up. The aircraft is located in one acre of site given by Andhra University. A significant feature of TU 142 is it almost towers over the Submarine Museum Kursura nearby and reminding one of defence operations in which the anti-submarine fighter craft hunts for the submarine.
Mr. Basanth Kumar said the remaining civil work would be completed so as to open it for public coinciding with the Visakha Utsav later this month. At a given time, 30 persons can visit the museum and smart cards will be used to give entry. The software is yet to be ready and ticket price is also not finalised.
The project cost, being met by A P Tourism, though initially estimated at Rs.11 crore went up to Rs.14 crore with mural work at the entrance, natural greenery and staircase and external lawns. Besides, to prevent any damage from gales the craft was anchored, wind resistant façade created and its fuel tanks have been filled with sand.
For the first time in the city, memorabilia was collected and Love Vizag souvenir shop was being launched with co-branding by VUDA. The President and the Governor would be felicitated and presented with the items.
A simulated game zone is created to give a hands-on feel of navigating the aircraft with 720 degrees manoeuvrability. However, only three of the simulators have so far been received.
One of the designers, Rita, said it was the first TU 142 aircraft to be dismantled and around 5000 workers laboured in four shifts.
Flight Engineer Lieutenant N.R. Kumar who has been associated with the museum work right from the beginning said the dismantling and assembling was a technological marvel.
The executing agency Taneja Aerospace Aviation Limited’s expertise had been used to dismantle TU 142. Engines, bombs, missiles etc. provided by the Navy will be displayed in the museum and the technology used in the craft to track submarine was revealed. Though Russia had a TU museum, it had no entry into the craft, he said.
