02 August 2004	Monday	15 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, Aug 1: A one-day exhibition of aircraft models drew large crowds to the PAF Museum on Sunday. At least seven participants, mostly dedicated hobbyists, put on display 70-odd models of aircraft and other military equipment and vehicles.

Apart from aircraft models made from kits, there were models skill fully made with wood on display. Shakeel Yousuf Khokar, the maker of the models, brought with him Airbus A-310, Boeing 747- 300, 550-seater Airbus 380 and Airbus A-320.

Another hobbyist Syed Zain Zulfiqar put a large number of models on display. One of them was a ship, Cutty Sark, which was the fastest vessel in its heyday. It could travel at the speed of nine knots. It used to take salt from India to Great Britain.

Another interesting model was USS Ohio which is a nuclear- propelled submarine capable of carrying 24 ballistic missiles. Being nuclear propelled, it can remained submerged almost indefinitely.

Kairasp Darruwala, who has been making aeroplane models for the last 35 years, exhibited at least 20 models. The models included F-14 Tomcat, AV-8B Harrier II and EA-6 Prowler.

Mustafa Aziz put on display Bf-109 G-14, which was the mainstay of the Lutwaffe (German air force) during the Second War. He also exhibited F-86 30 Sabre which was flown by Sqn Ldr M.M. Alam during the 1965 War and downed nine enemy aeroplanes.

Ali Mazhar, organizer of the exhibition, told Dawn that he and his hobbyist friends were heartened by the response of visitors who had taken a keen interest in the models on display. He added that making of aircraft models was a very educative diversion which enabled people to learn about military history.