Ram Nath Chawla
Ram Nath Chawla | |
|---|---|
| Wing Commander Indian Air Force | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 December 1903 Kasur, Punjab Province, British India |
| Died | 23 February 1986 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British India (1933–1947) India (from 1947) |
Ram Nath Chawla (1 December 1903 – 23 February 1986) was an Indian pilot who in March 1930, in an attempt to win a flying competition set by the Aga Khan, was the first Indian to fly an aircraft from India to England. He was the main pilot of a de Havilland Gipsy Moth and was accompanied by 17-year-old Aspy Merwan Engineer, his co-pilot. The journey took 17 days.
He was later commissioned into the equipment branch of the Indian Air Force, becoming its senior officer, before he retired in 1953.