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8th June 1948 Flight Covers- A Historic Flight

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  • Date: June 8, 1948 (Tuesday)

  • Departure Time: 00:05

  • Aircraft Name: Malabar Princess

  • Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-749 Constellation (40-seater)

  • Registration Number: VT-CQS

  • Departed from: Santa Cruz Airport in Bombay for London via Cairo & Geneva (5,000 miles)

  • Captains in Command: K R Guzder (Bombay-Cairo) & D K Jatar (Cairo-Geneva-London)

  • Passengers on Board: 35 (29 bound for London, 6 for Geneva)

  • Fare: Rs. 1720 (Bombay-London)

  • Cargo: The Malabar Princess carried 164 passenger bags with 1700 pounds of mail, including letters from Indians to their friends/relatives in Egypt, Switzerland, and the UK.

Click here to read all about the Air India 8th June 1948 First Flight Story

AIR INDIA_8TH JUNE 1948 TATA SIGNED.jpg

Air India 8th June 1948 Souvenir Red Flight Cover

AIR INDIA_8TH JUNE 1948 HANSEN_edited.jp

Air India 8th June 1948 Souvenir P&T Flight Cover

8TH JUNE 1948 AIR INDIA PRIVATE FFC BOMBAY LONDON

Air India 8th June 1948 Return Flights

air india first flight covers air india return flight covers london bombay

Air India 8th June 1948 Return Flights

Unique Air India Flight Covers / Late/ early usage

The First three aircraft delivered to Air-India were the Rajput Princess (VT-CQR) which was originally intended to be used for the inaugural journey, but later it was decided that the Malabar Princess (VT-CQP) would be used for this flight. The third flight which is the Mogul Princess (VT-CQS) its illustration can be seen in the red souvenir cover of Air India

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