M M Alam's Sabre

Tayub · Post by **Tayub** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:32 am

I had the honor of meeting our national hero and a legend Air Commodore. M. M. Alam. The first time I met him, he was serving in the Shaheen Foundation, PAF Air Headquarter Chaklala, Rawalpindi.

He had the 'real' open door policy, where he will sit in the full view of the people mainly PAF widows, and orphans waiting with their grievances.

After his retirement, I met him while he was being air-lifted from Peshawar to Rawalpindi CMH for the injuries he suffered while fighting in Afghanistan against Soviet forces.

Then, in 1985 I met him at Karachi Airport. Both of us were departing for PK-300. One of the cabin crew told me that Air Cmdr. M.M. Alam is traveling on the same flight. I couldn't recognize him. He had a beard. Physically, he was in a good shape. Since, the F class was half empty. Captain and Cabin Crew beg to him to move from Y to F. But, he politely declined.

In 80's Some political and religious parties approach him to join them and he will become a MNA or a Senator. He declined their offer. On one occassion, he did mention this to the Secretary General of Jamat-e-Islami, now the Amir Mr. Munawar Hassan that he will rather be a worker, than a leader to serve his country.

On another note. Air Cmdr. M.M. Alam has the Bengali background. He never married, because he had other siblings to take care of. After 1971 war, he was given the option to go back to his home land. He could very well command the Bangladesh air force. But, he refused. During his time in the PAF, we never heard of him involved in any money making schemes, and or other social misdeeds. Which is very common for the people with power and fame. He had the potential and charisma to command the Pakistan Air force. But, the people at the helm of the country's leadership at that time did not like such a kind or humble person, and he received a retirement as the Air Commodore.

riz · Post by **riz** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:42 am

reminding of a hero , what a pride .................some sources state that he was grounded during 1971 war coz he belongs to bengal and the hierarchy was afriad of sending him on missions.

nopy99 · Post by **nopy99** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:13 am

It wasnt just him, all ethnic bengalis were grounded by PAF during the 1971 conflict.

Sounds like he has a great and humble personality.

yousaf465 · Post by **yousaf465** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:33 am

W can but where the money ?

hazad wrote:Thanks for the information Mr. Ali.

That aircraft is a big part of our National Pride, it would be sad if it was lost in some incident.

It would be good to get some sort of official confirmation on it, but, it would depend on what kind of connection we have in the air force.

Go to www.vintagewings.ca , these are all aircraft owned by a private owner, Micheal Potter. They're all in flying condition. He recently acquired a Sabre, I saw it up close, absolutely beautiful.

It gave me an idea that maybe some of the wrecks of the T-33s at Masroor, and wrecks in other places can be bought back into flying.

What do you all think?

yousaf465 · Post by **yousaf465** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:39 am

yousaf465 wrote:I think it's in Sargodha's Badamai Bagh. I saw it long time ago.

It was company bagh not Badami Bagh, living in Lahore has it's disadvantages too. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 17&iwloc=A Anyway found a treasure "Collection of All sabres on display". http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.p ... d=1#import Just import this into google earth.

udaas · Post by **udaas** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:43 am

Ethnic Bengalis were grounded due to Rashid Menhas' (August 20th 1971) incident.

In any event someone please find out his whereabouts and post his recent photo here.

ConnieMan · Post by **ConnieMan** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:33 am

yousaf465 wrote:
yousaf465 wrote:I think it's in Sargodha's Badamai Bagh. I saw it long time ago.
It was company bagh not Badami Bagh, living in Lahore has it's disadvantages too. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 17&iwloc=A Anyway found a treasure "Collection of All sabres on display". http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.p ... d=1#import Just import this into google earth.

Great to see stuff on Google earth now days!, i didn't though Sergoda Air base would be that big and vast!, just amazing!. I could only see one displayed Sabre, Mig 19 and F104 there, so i don't think if there are any treasures to restore there. Unless i missed on other ones. Now i meant by on base itself!.

It's great idea to restore our old birds and where is the will and money to do it and there has to be a team that would do it as anyone off the road simply can't, now i mean by both restoring to display and flying condition.

If we could make up a team then i'll be first one to get aboard it....

yousaf465 · Post by **yousaf465** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:17 am

ConnieMan wrote:
yousaf465 wrote:
yousaf465 wrote:I think it's in Sargodha's Badamai Bagh. I saw it long time ago.
It was company bagh not Badami Bagh, living in Lahore has it's disadvantages too. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 17&iwloc=A Anyway found a treasure "Collection of All sabres on display". http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.p ... d=1#import Just import this into google earth.
Great to see stuff on Google earth now days!, i didn't though Sergoda Air base would be that big and vast!, just amazing!. I could only see one displayed Sabre, Mig 19 and F104 there, so i don't think if there are any treasures to restore there. Unless i missed on other ones. Now i meant by on base itself!.

It's great idea to restore our old birds and where is the will and money to do it and there has to be a team that would do it as anyone off the road simply can't, now i mean by both restoring to display and flying condition.

If we could make up a team then i'll be first one to get aboard it....

This is sargodha Jinnah Garden(Company Bagh) not Mushaf Airbase http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargodha_Airbase google earth http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.p ... d=1#import One F-104 is at riaslpur. It is on display there. We can contact PAF for any F-104 to restore I will love to restore that Badmash He also killed many a German Pilots.

hazad · Post by **hazad** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:40 pm

As far as restoration goes, it doesn't have to be restored to flying condition. Maybe it can just be restored to have the engine and most avionics fitted to it, with some panels removed, and placed in the PAF museum in Karachi, indoors. It would make for a good educational display, and can potentially inspire a lot of young kids to pursue aerospace engineering.

yousaf465 · Post by **yousaf465** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:16 pm

We need them in flying condition. It will be fun to fly such a aircraft.

ConnieMan · Post by **ConnieMan** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:23 pm

yousaf465 wrote:We need them in flying condition. It will be fun to fly such a aircraft.

Who is going to fly the "Badmash", won't be simple to fly. Plus would CAA allow it to be flown once it's fully restored?. I'm not sure if restored could wear PAF's scheme, would PAF allow it as it's going to be re registered as civil aircraft.

Where are we going to find a low time engine, would PAF have couple in there reserved stocks as they used to have for Sabers until few years ago!.

ConnieMan · Post by **ConnieMan** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:26 pm

hazad wrote:As far as restoration goes, it doesn't have to be restored to flying condition. Maybe it can just be restored to have the engine and most avionics fitted to it, with some panels removed, and placed in the PAF museum in Karachi, indoors. It would make for a good educational display, and can potentially inspire a lot of young kids to pursue aerospace engineering.

That's more reasonable and logical way to do the restoration, only thing is PAF museum in Karachi has one A model indoors and B displayed outside, so would they need 3rd one!.

yousaf465 · Post by **yousaf465** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:04 pm

Italian air force can be contacted with. It will be real fun to fly a Badmash. Pakistani air frame and Italian engine. Will it work. CAA need to allow such revival efforts. If FAA can do it why can't CAA.

hazad · Post by **hazad** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:48 pm

Doesn't have to go to PAF museum in Karachi, i'm sure there are other places that often get kids visiting, like say we put it at a university, Air university in Islamabad, heck it'll make for a good project for their students, or some say NED.

yousaf465 · Post by **yousaf465** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:37 am

There is also a aircraft at GIKI.