An Air India pilot’s guide to collecting aircraft scale models

Collectors are driven by different motivations – from nostalgia to passion. We chat up with Air India pilot, Captain Saif Tinwala, on his extensive Air India aircraft scale model collection, and tips for budding avgeeks to get started with their very own collection.

1. What inspired you to become a pilot?

I grew up in Juhu in Mumbai which is very close to the airport; and right from the beginning I enjoyed watching planes take off over my house. Soon, I could identify the aircraft just by its sound. I also dabbled with aviation photography for a while. By the time I was in the 12th grade (high school), I knew I wanted to pursue a career in aviation. I have been flying for seven years now and I have loved every single day of it.

2. Tell us a bit about your aircraft scale model collection and how it all started?

I started collecting aircraft models much before I joined Air India owing to my love for aviation. Interestingly, the very first aircraft scale model that I bought was an Air India Boeing 787; and then, I joined Air India to fly the Boeing 787, which was a full circle moment for me. Collecting diecast airplane models is a niche hobby, not just in India but world over. I own more than 100 scale models, and around 70-80% of these are in Air India livery. My collection, now, ranges from Air India’s very first aircraft, the Super Constellation, to the A350s in the new livery. It took me more than seven years to collect all these aircraft.

3. That’s impressive! So, you have every single aircraft type that Air India has had in its fleet?

Yes, I have the entire fleet of Air India, every model that was ever produced. I fly the Boeing 787, so there is a bit of bias there. I have three Boeing 787 models of three different registrations. I also have a few Boeing 747 aircraft models; one of each type – Boeing 747-200, Boeing 747-300 and Boeing 747-400. I have scale models in different liveries too. I have aircraft models in the ‘Palace in the Sky’ livery, ‘Flying Swan’ livery, and many more. I also have aircraft in erstwhile Vistara’s livery and Air India Express – pretty much summing up the entire Air India Group.