TU-142 Aircraft Museum, RK Beach Road, Vishakhapatnam..

 TU-142 Aircraft Museum, RK Beach Road, Visakhapatnam.

When the Navy went for modernisation and was re-equipped with better aircraft for Maritime Reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, TU-142, four-engined turboprop aircraft of Russian origin, were decommissioned and disposed of as per existing procedures. One of the aircraft, tail number IN 312, a decommissioned TU 142, was flown in from the Navy's Arakkonam base to Visakhapatnam International Airport, dismantled, and transported to RK Beach Road. “ TU 142 Aircraft Museum” is built around the very same aircraft.

The museum, in addition to this real TU 142 aircraft, has many aircraft parts, instruments, and one of the engines on display with information boards. 

Photographs and information boards give the history and the stellar role played by this versatile aircraft in the wars fought by India.

The museum is well-maintained. 

Visitors, mainly those who do not have any knowledge of the role of the Indian Navy in general and Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine warfare aircraft, in particular, will emerge as much better-informed people.

Very informative and well worth a visit.

TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

The years 1988, 1992, and 2017 mark the core milestones of the TU-142M "Albatross" aircraft's lifecycle in the Indian Navy:

• 1988 (Induction): The TU-142M was formally inducted into the Indian Navy's INAS 312 squadron on April 16, 1988, at INS Hansa, Goa. 
• 1992 (Relocation): To align with India's Look East policy and secure the eastern maritime boundary, the squadron permanently relocated its base to INS Rajali in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, in April 1992.
• 2017 (De-induction): After nearly three decades of service, the iconic "Flying Destroyer" was officially decommissioned and de-inducted on March 29, 2017, at INS Rajali, making way for the modern Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft. 

At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

Pilot Station.  Partially reconstructed cockpit of TU 142 aircraft.At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

Escape Mural. At TU142 Aircraft Museum.

Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprop engine on display at the TU 142 aircraft Museum. The Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12MV or NK-12MP turboprop engines. Each engine produces approximately 14,795 to 15,000 shaft horsepower (11,033 kW) and drives distinctive eight-blade contra-rotating, reversible-pitch AV-60N propellers.

Unveiling the fin model of TU 142 by the Hon'ble President of India. The fin and Rudder assembly with the Albetross logo on display in the background. At TU 142 Museum.

The Tupolev Tu-142 is a Soviet/Russian maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. 

 The Tu-142 was designed by the Tupolev design bureau and manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery Plants from 1968 to 1994. 

Developed in response to the American Polaris programme, the Tu-142 grew out of the need for a viable Soviet ASW platform. The Tu-142's capability was incrementally improved while the type was in service, eventually resulting in the Tu-142M3, the final long-range Tu-142 with highly sophisticated combat avionics and a large payload.

View of the top portion of the starboard wing and the starboard side of the fuselage.At TU 142 Museum.

At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

The TU 142 Aircraft Museum is a preserved Tupolev Tu-142 located in Visakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Built as part of Vizag city tourism promotion, it was formally inaugurated by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in December 2017 

Service 

This aircraft served 29 years with the Indian Navy and had 30,000 hours of accident-free flying by the time of its retirement on 29 March 2017 at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. 

The aircraft was flown from Arkonam to Vishakhapatnam airport, disassembled 

transported to the museum site and assembled again. 

Aircraft Museum 

The Government of Andhra Pradesh decided to preserve the aircraft in a museum. The project development cost was around ₹ 14 crores, which was funded by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.

The Tupolev Tu-142 is a Soviet/Russian maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. 

The Tu-142 was designed by the Tupolev design bureau and manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery Plants from 1968 to 1994. 

Developed in response to the American Polaris programme, the Tu-142 grew out of the need for a viable Soviet ASW platform. The Tu-142's capability was incrementally improved while the type was in service, eventually resulting in the Tu-142M3, the final long-range Tu-142 with highly sophisticated combat avionics and a large payload.

Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprop engine on display at TU 142 aircraft Museum. 

The Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12MV or NK-12MP turboprop engines. Each engine produces approximately 14,795 to 15,000 shaft horsepower (11,033 kW) and drives distinctive eight-blade contra-rotating, reversible-pitch AV-60N propellers.

Kursura Submarine Museum. Vishakhapatnam Trip 27 - 22 Jan 26.

Kursura Submarine Museum.

Of all the four Naval Museums, the Kursura Submarine Museum is at the extreme North-Eastern end of RK Beach Road and the Sea Harrier Museum at the south-western end. 

 Generally, people start at either one of them and cover all four museums. 

We started from the Kursura Submarine Museum and worked southwards to the Sea Harrier Museum.

The rates for the Kursura Submarine Museum were Rs 100/- per adult. Further reading of the rate list revealed that the entry fee per adult for all four museums was onlyRs 200/-. We bought the tickets for all four museums. 

The Kursura Submarine Museum is a real decommissioned Indian Navy submarine, literally manhandled from the sea and brought to its present beach location, which was provided and prepared by VMRDA. The Submarine was extensively reworked for easy access and to make it fit to be presented as a real submarine museum. 

One can only guess at the Herculean effort it must have taken to manhandle it on the beach and convert it to a museum.

INS Kursura was a Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy.

Kasura was commissioned on 18 December 1969 and was decommissioned on 27 February 2001 after 31 years of service. 

It participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, where it played a key role in patrol missions. It later participated in naval exercises with other nations and made many goodwill visits to other countries.

After decommissioning, it was dedicated to the Nation by the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 9 August 2002 and was preserved as a museum for public access from 24 August 2002. Kursura has the distinction of being one of the very few submarine museums to retain originality.

Despite being a decommissioned submarine, she still receives the navy's "Dressing Ship" honour, which is usually awarded only to active ships.

Entry in the submarine is so regulated that at one time, only 40 people are allowed inside the Submarine.

Entry is through a door accessed by a steel ladder located at the forward end of the submarine, and exit is through the rear end of the submarine. 

During this walk through the entire length of the Kursura, as the public traverses through all of its seven main compartments, which include the torpedo room, crew cabins, and control room, engine compartment, navigation console visitor becomes acutely aware of the lack of space the cramped areas and the closed, clustrophobic surroundings the public becomes aware the harsh and demanding working conditions of a Naval Submariner. 

Visiting the Kursura Submarine was an illuminating experience.

To know all about the Kursura, Kaveri Class (variant of the Foxtrot-class) diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy, go through the captions of the attached photographs

INS Kursura (S20) was a Kalvari-class (variant of the Foxtrot-class) diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy. It was India's fourth submarine. Kursura was commissioned on 18 December 1969 and was decommissioned on 27 February 2001 after 31 years of service. It participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, where it played a key role in patrol missions. It later participated in naval exercises with other nations and made many goodwill visits to other countries.

Only 40 at one time in the submarine.

At the Kursura Museum.

After decommissioning, It was dedicated to the Nation by the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 9 August 2002 and was preserved as a museum for public access from 24 August 2002, making its final journey to Visakhapatnam on RK Beach. 

The INS Kursura is divided into six main compartments. 

These sections showcase the operational and living areas of the former Soviet-built Foxtrot-class submarine, including the torpedo rooms, crew quarters, and galley. 

Key Compartments and Features:

Forward & Rear Torpedo Rooms: Houses the submarine's weapon systems.

Living Quarters: Features crew sleeping quarters, captain's cabin, and dining areas.

Operational Areas: Includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

INS Kursura has a length of 91.3 m (300 ft) overall, a beam of 7.5 m (25 ft) and a draught of 6 m (20 ft). She displaces 1,950 t (1,919 long tons) surfaced, 2,475 t (2,436 long tons) submerged, and has a maximum diving depth of 985 ft (300 m). 

The crew complement is about 75, including 8 officers and 67 sailors.

Armament 10 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes with 22 Type 53 torpedoes

Inside INS Kursura. Operational Compartment.

Forward Torpedo Room: Houses the submarine's weapon systems.

The whole space is jam-packed. Totally cramped.

Inside INS Kursura.Operational Compartment.

Forward Torpedo Room: Houses the submarine's weapon systems.

Lack of free room 

The loo on board  INS Kursura. The loo. Just about fits. No elbow room 😊

Entering another of the six compartments.

Inside INS Kursura. Top, bottom and all sides, all full of pipes, cables and other equipment.

Inside INS Kursura. Loo on one side, wash-'space' on the other side. Tight fit here as well.

Note the terminology, 'space' & not 'basin'.

Inside INS Kursura.

Operational Area includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

Inside INS Kursura.

Operational Area includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

N6 10M Sonar set(Passive) to detect ships and submarines by their underwater noise.

Living Quarters: Includes crew sleepingquarters, captain's cabin, and dining areas

These are spread all over the sbumrine. Wherever they found space, they put the beds.

Living Quarters: Two on the left side, four on the right side. These are spread all over the sbumrine. Wherever they found space, they put the beds. Living Quarters includes crew sleeping quarters, the captain's cabin, and dining areas. 

Inside INS Kursura. The dining area. 

Living Quarters:  Features crew sleeping quarters, captain's cabin, and dining areas.

Inside INS Kursura. Compartment blower space.

Operational Areas: Includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

Inside INS Kursura. Chart House. Main navigation Complex. Also note the cramped position of the Navigation Officer.

Operational Areas: Includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

Inside INS Kursura. Look at the complexities and 'crowding' of the pipes and valves.

Operational Areas: Includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

Inside INS Kursura. Look at the complexities and 'crowding' of the pipes and valves.

Operational Areas: Includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

Inside INS Kursura. Snort Mast. Provides fresh air from the atmosphere at periscope depth for diesel engine.

Operational Areas: Includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

Inside INS Kursura. Radio Receiver. Communications Room. 

Operational Areas: Includes engines, pumps, and surveillance equipment.

Inside INS Kursura. Crests of Indian Submarines on display in the 

Living Quarters.

Inside INS Kursura. Space for tinned provisions. Living Quarters.

Inside INS Kursura. the Galley/ cooking area. Living Quarters.

Inside INS Kursura. Main diesel (central)  engine. Type 2D 42 M of 2000 horsepower. Used for propulsion and battery charging.Operational Area.

Inside INS Kursura. Main diesel (central)  engine. Type 2D 42 M of 2000 horsepower. Used for propulsion and battery charging.Operational Area.

Inside INS Kursura. Another loo/water closet/ Lavatory. 

No better than the other one. Living quarters.

After a very entertaining and learning experience exiting from INS Kursura.

Khandekars at Kursura Museum.

Tatwawadis at Kursura Museum.

At the Kursura Museum.

The Kursura Museum.

At the Kursura Museum.

Vishakhapatnam Araku Valley Trip - Visit to R K Beach Road - Museums.

 Visit to R K Beach Road - Museums.

The taxis took us to the Welcome Group, Deevee Grand Bay Hotel.

After check-in, we went to our rooms.

We were to stay here for two nights.

A review of Welcome Group, Deevee Grand Bay Hotel is given HERE

Settled in the room, refreshed and gathered in the lobby to proceed to RK Beah Road, our first tourist attraction. 

About RK Beach Road:

The start of RK Beach Road is quite close, within walking distance of our hotel. It is called RK Beach Road due to the location of the famous Rama Krishna Mission Ashram located on this road.

Under the Smart City programme, a project to develop a 31 km stretch of the Visakhapatnam beach road to Bhimli for Rs 200 crore to promote 'tourism' was sanctioned.

Those who were responsible for creating something to promote 'tourism' had a big natural asset working for them. A beautiful beach with golden sands. By itself, a huge crowd puller. This made things easier for the project executors.

Over a period of time, Vishakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority, VMRD, has done a fair job; it has succeeded admirably in transforming a stretch of about 3 to 3.5 kilometres, called RK Beach Road, into a first-rate tourist attraction. 

There are parks and children's play areas scattered along this stretch.

There are numerous statues and art installations scattered along its stretch; the number keeps varying as some are taken off, and some new ones are added. At any given time, there are more than 50 odd statues and artworks on display. 

Statues include prominent political and social figures like N.T. Rama Rao, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Mahatma Gandhi, etc. Literary icons and poets like Sri Rangam Srinivasa Rao (Sri Sri), Gurram Jashua, and Gurajada Apparao. 

In artworks, notable pieces include sculptures of mermaids, maidens, and Buddhist-themed artworks. 

The complete area is brightly lit with colourful electrical displays and fairy lights.  

Hawkers selling their wares and the 'foodee' stalls, all nicely decorated with fairy lights and colourful lights and playing popular hit songs. All this gives the RK Beach Road a very festive look and indeed makes it a must-visit place in Vishakhapatna.

However, the gem and linchpin that make this place a really memorable tourist attraction are the four Museums created jointly by the VMRDA and the Indian Navy. These museums give the general public a rare glimpse of the Naval War Machines and create some awareness of Indian Naval Air and Sea Power. 

These museums are the Kursura Submarine Museum, the TU 142 Aircraft Museum, the 

UH 3 H Museum (Sikorsky UH-3H helicopter museum, and lastly the Sea Harrier Museum.

A review of the Kursura Submarine Museum is given Here.

A review of the TU 142 Aircraft Museum is given Here. 

A review of the UH 3 H Museum is given Here. 

A review of the Sea Harrier Museum is given Here. 

 It was great fun and a nice experience going around the RK Beach Road.

 Returned to the hotel and went to well earned sleep  

Vishakhapatnam Araku Valley Trip - Deevee Grand Bay Hotel.

 Welcome Group. Deevee Grand Bay Hotel. Vishakhapatnam. 

After landing at Vishakhapatnam International Airport, as promised by our travel agent, Abhishek, our taxis were waiting for us.

They took us to the Welcome Group Hotel, Deevee Grand Bay Hotel, where our booking was done. 

Some people were checking out, and so we had to wait for our turn. 

There was no one to serve weleome drink, we were supposed to help ourselves. But there was hardlyany thing left in the jug, and there were no glasses. After being pointed out a couple of times, we got our welcome drink.

I always make my bookings at hotels with the name 'P M Velankar'. 

Abhishek had done the booking for our group with my name as 'Prafullkumar Manohar Velankar'.  This caused confusion because even with the booking confirmation number, what was being shown on the screen of the reception PC  was "Prafullkumar Ma............".

Due to the length of the name 'Velankar', part of the name was not showing up on the screen. This resulted in considerable delay our check-in, causing unnecessary irritation.  

Lesson learnt or the future.

If someone else is doing your bookings, just check underwhat name it is being done. 

Our room was room no.302. It was nice. It had a beautiful view of part of the RK Beach and the sea. Sunrise from the room looked beautiful.

The hotel is located within walking distance of one of the famous beaches of Vishakhapatnam, the RK Beach, which in fact, is the most famous beach of that place.

The ambience of the hotel was good. There is a larger-than-life nude sculpture of three beautiful nymhs releasing doves - messengers of peace. 

Some may find the nudity of statues objectionable, I thought they were beautiful.

Breakfast spread is normal and as good as any other three to four-star hotel.

Staff was courtious, and the service was good.

 Overall,  our two-night stay was quite comfortable.

Deevee hotel. Vishakhapatnam.

Stairs leading to the lobby from the dining halls.

Welcome Group, Deevee Grand Bay Hotel. Vishakhapatnam.

The swimming Pool. 

Welcome Group, Deevee Grand Bay Hotel. Vishakhapatnam. Vishakhapatnam.

On the way to the swimming Pool. The swimming Pool. 

Welcome Group, Deevee Grand Bay Hotel. Vishakhapatnam. 

Breakfast with Khandekars. 

Welcome Group, Deevee Grand Bay Hotel. Vishakhapatnam. 

Sun Rise and RK Beach. View from our room.

The Reception. 

Deevee Hotel, Welgome group. Vishakhapatnam.

Rooms, Deevee Hotel, Welcome group. Vishakhapatnam.

View from swimming pool.

View from our room. RK Beachand hotel swimming pool.

Deevee Hotel, Welgome group. Vishakhapatnam.

Lovely Nymphs releasing messengers of Peace. The Doves.

Lobby, Deevee Hotel, Welcome group. Vishakhapatnam.