Thread by @sheshapatangi1

Know more about Bharat’s Modern Day Aviator forgotten by Left’s Distronics.
Sri Rama Venkata Subba Setty (conveniently contracted to S.V. Setty, and sometimes spelled Setti), was born on December 28, 1879 into a family of meagre resources. After his early education in Mysore.

He graduated from Madras University. Later, at Thomson College of Engineering, Roorkee, he distinguished himself taking first place. He joined the Mysore State service in 1906 as Assistant Engineer. In 1909, he won a scholarship for an electrical engineering diploma from

Faraday House, England, where he later gained practical experience through stints in engineering companies.

Setty was determined not to return to India without learning aeronautics. However, he was financially insecure since the Mysore government refused to extend his

deputation (though he was granted leave without pay). There was also strong opposition from his family. Undeterred, he joined A.V. Roe and Company (Avro)—the only British company specialising in building aircraft—in May 1911 and plunged into aircraft designing. With financial

support from a well-wisher, he also enrolled to learn flying at the Avro School.
The first reference to S.V. Setti in Flight, the official organ of the Aero Club of the UK that started publication in January 1909, is in the issue dated June 24, 1911 where he is referred to as a

new pupil at Brooklands Aerodrome. Over the next eight months it makes around 10 references to Setty flying various exercises in the Avro biplane or the Green-engined Avro, usually solo, at times carrying out circuits, at times doing some rolling practice. The last reference in

the issue of March 2, 1912 says he placed the Avro on its head. The report mentions that the pilot was unharmed, but this was probably Setty’s final flight. Notably, aviation at the time was dominated by accidents—minor and major—that did not necessarily reflect on the calibre

of the pilot.
But Setty had joined Avro to be an aircraft designer. While testing an Avro D prototype, he crashed but managed to escape unhurt. Determined to improve the machine, he studied its flaws and soon came up with a new design. Avro allowed him to implement his design,

which he did. They asked him to fly it—once again he obliged and landed safely. Famous Australian aviator John Duigan, who witnessed the flight, purchased the biplane on the spot. The aircraft that Setty built for Duigan is considered the prototype of Avro’s later E type.

The D and E types were the models for the Avro 500. The Avro 500 was itself the inspiration for the Avro 504—the first and one of the most widely operated early trainer aircraft—that first flew in September 1913.

In a certificate dated March 12, 1912 Avro recommended Setty with

the words: He has had considerable experience in the Flying School and has become very efficient in the tuning up of aeroplanes and engines. He has the makings of a very good pilot. He has also worked in the Drawing Office on some new types of machines, and we now consider him

to have had sufficient experience to be left in entire charge of the erection of a machine of any type. Setty left England on June 30, 1912 with a gold medal from A.V. Roe for General Proficiency in Aeronautics. Inscribed on it was an Avro E.

S. V. Setty after returning from UK

joined the services. But, he did not get immediate posting to commensurate with his qualification. Sir M Visvesvaraya, the then, Dewan of Mysore State, with an eye to impart quality and practical technical education to the enthusiasts in the state, had started two technical

institutions. The one at Bangalore was handed over by Sir MV to Mr. S V Setty and he took charge as the Superintendent of the institution in May, 1913. This was associated with the School of Mechanical Engineering and further went onto become, one of the best technical

institutes across the country. He along with, Sir M V, was responsible for laying the foundation for the technical education in our state and a gifted college for our country. Mr. S V Setty, set a firm base for the institution since he was with it since its inception and saw it

grew from the scratch, realizing the dreams of various young and able minds of Mysore State. He must be credited for having infused strong roots to an institution, whose engineers have played pivotal role across all departments and wings of India. He was in a way, the architect

of engineering education in our state. Mr. S V Setty stirred the school very ably, with equipment covering subjects like Mechanical, electrical and automobile. This paved the way for the first Engineering College in Karnataka at Bangalore in 1917, which was attached to the

school of Mechanical engineering

during the initial stage. He was given additional responsibility as a Professor to manage it. This institution since then has churned out thousands of great engineers, visionaries, thinkers who have built the nation India, into one of the

biggest and most successful democracies across the world. The India today is a result of innovations, thinking and hard work of great personalities such as Mr. S V Setty. The legacy of such innovators will live for hundreds of years influencing and inspiring minds to think big

and work hard.
His greatness which was gleaming like an ever flowering garden came to a sudden halt, when he became the victim of influenza epidemic at an early age of 39 as also that of his wife and one of their four daughters. He breathed his last on October 12, 1918.

Thus

with his death, his greatness which should have been destined to find important pages in the history, lost out to the redux of First World War and further in 1959, when the records at AVRO were destroyed in a fire accident.

#VANDEMATARAM