THE STORY OF GROUP CAPTAIN (R) SYED MASOOD AKHTAR HUSSAINI
Pilot • Air Defence Weapons Controller • Aviation Artist • Chronicler of the Skies
Group Captain (Retired) Syed Masood Akhtar Hussaini's life exemplifies a profound dedication to aviation in every dimension. Pakistan's foremost aviation artist, Hussaini's achievements soar beyond national recognition.
In 1985, the President of Pakistan conferred on him the Tamgha-i-Basalat in recognition of his contributions as the Aviation Artist of the PAF. This was followed in 1998 by the President's Pride of Performance Award to Hussaini. The American Society of Aviation Artists has honored him with their fellowship after his work was displayed at an American exhibition. For his sustained artistic brilliance, Hussaini was awarded the "Life Time Achievement Award" in 2019.
In celebration of the Pakistan Air Force's 40th anniversary, his paintings were immortalized on ten commemorative postage stamps by the Government of Pakistan, further solidifying his artistic legacy. His art graces air force institutions in Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, the UK, the USA, and Zimbabwe.
Inspired and mentored by iconic artists such as Keith Ferris-USA, Frank Wootton-UK and Paul Langeley-France, Hussaini's realism captures the heart-pounding authenticity of flight in unmatched detail.
A PIONEER PROVES HIS METTLE
On 4 November 1948, a PAF Dakota, returning after an air supply paradrop near Skardu...
Group Captain (Retired) Hussaini served his nation with valor, flying as a pilot and observer in some of the most iconic aircrafts in PAF's history. His path to the cockpit led next to the Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur, alma mater of the country's most storied aviators.
Before joining the PAF as a pre-cadet in 1963, Hussaini completed his primary education at Abbottabad Public School where he studied from 1960 – 1963. Right from his childhood he gained a good reputation as an Artist, Dramatist and a Sportsman.
Sir Syed House, Hockey Team, poses with their House Master, Mr Bilgramy. Sitting 3rd from right on left of the House Master is Hussaini.
Joining Air Force Public School as a Pre-Cadet, turned out to be very beneficial for Hussaini. The Principal at that time was Mr. Catchpole who was also spending the last Five Years of his active service at Sargodha. Catchpole was the most decorated educationist of the Subcontinent from England. He had taught English to people like Field Marshals Ayub Khan, Air Marshal Asghar Khan and Noor Khan when he was at Dera Doon-India before partition. He did not go back to England and he is burried at Cadet College Hassan Abdal. This is where he excelled in visual arts (which was his passion) under the guidance of a very capable arts master, Mr. Sarfaraz deployed by Mr. Catchpole. Arts was a passion with Mr. Catchpole as well and in turn he was always excited by Hussaini's work. Being a natural sportsman since his childhood, he used to play as the captain of two teams of the school, Hockey & Gymnastics during his final term at Sargodha.
Hussaini belonged to Sabre House and in the picture, the whole house has gathered in front of their building to celebrate the overall top position they have achieved in academics, arts,and sports. All trophies that the House has won are lying in front while on the extreme right sitting on the chair is Hussaini (House Prefect) - 1967.
End of the Course Photograph - The 14th Entry Course of PAF College Sargodha ended with a photograph of all appointment holders taken with the Principal Mr Catchpole and the Commander in Chief, Air Marshal Noor Khan - 1968. Seeing in the picture, front row, on the extreme right is Hussaini.
Hussaini Being Presented a Certificate for all round best performance in his course by the Commander in Chief Air Marshal Noor Khan. (1966)
Hussaini joined the Air Force Academy in 1968 in the 51st GDP Course. The initial training with ground subjects was conducted at Initial Training Wing (ITW) at Lower Topa after which the course was to shift to Risalpur for flying training. Rashid Minhas, who belonged to the same course, became a good friend of Hussaini and he always appreciated the sketches which Hussaini drew on the Air Force activities around. Rashid was always a source of inspiration for Hussaini in his pursuit for excellence in air art.
The picture shows the DINING OUT NIGHT at Lower Topa on the completion of Initial Training after which the course will head to Risalpur for flying. The Chief Guest at this occasion was Air Marshal Saeedullah. Hussaini can be seen sitting second from right while Rashid Minhas is standing on the extreme right.
Hussaini is presented the certificate for being outstanding in hockey by the Commandant Academy AVM O'Brien.
BSc Avionics Degree is presented by General Abdul Hameed.
Chief of the Army Staff General Abdul Hameed reviewing the parade. Hussaini standing with the sword on extreme left commanding a flight.
Being presented with the FLYING WING.
Saluting away the Chief Guest at the finishing moments of the parade. Hussaini can be seen (with the sword) leading from the end.
Group photograph of the entire course with the Army Chief, Commandant, and Assistant Commandant. Hussaini is seated second from right.
First photograph after arrival at the squadron. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas is sitting in the centre while Pilot Officer Hussani is standing on the extreme left.
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Conversion on the Jets as Commissioned 51st GD(P) officers after commissioning were to clear the AMI (Aero Medical institute) Course before they were allowed to convert on to jets. The pilot officers of the course after clearing the tests are being photographed along with the staff officers at the AMI – 27th March 1971. Hussaini can be seen standing 5th from right in the middle row.
A group of coursemates gather at the end of the course dinner. Hussaini is standing third from left. Standing second from left is Hussaini's friend and roommate Rashid Minhas (later Nishan-e-Haider) while standing first from left is Kaleem Saadat (later PAF Air Chief).
The modern Air Forces have always been in need for qualified Air Defence Controllers to man their Ops Rooms during war and peace. The Air Defence Weapon Controllers have to keep their country on 24 hrs alert from the enemy, conduct air battles, alert air defence artillery on time for the approaching enemy, destroy the approaching threat in the air, deploy the ground & airborne radars while ensuring their coordination, read and react on the realtime data being received on the screens of Air Defence Command, deploy and operate surface to air missiles - drones and rockets. In short it boils down to the fact that the modern wars are fought from the Ops Rooms which are manned by Air Defence Weapons Controllers (also known as the unsung heroes) on whom depends the outcome of all aerial encounters.
The picture shows the passing out officers after completing the 20th ADWC course from Air Defence School, Sakesar - 1975. The commandant and two instructors sitting in the middle and the artist, Hussaini, can be seen standing on the extreme right.The countries from around the world are now requesting PAF for their air defence officers to be trained on PAF lines. The Air Defence School is soon (it seems) going to be overburdened by trainees from foreign countries.
The last photograph before passing out of No 2 SQN, 51st GDP (Risalpur) at the flight line. Sitting third from right is Hussaini while sitting beside him (4th from right) is Rashid Minhas, Hussaini's friend and his roommate to be, till his last flight.
Pilot Officer Hussaini poses in front of the T-33 aircraft, the type the squadron was flying in those days at PAF Masroor. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas, who was Hussaini's roommate, also flew in the same type of aircraft when he attained martyrdom. He (as the youngest officer ever) was bestowed upon the highest gallantry award of the country "THE NISHAN-E-HAIDER" - July 1971
CUSTODIAN OF VISUAL ARCHIVE OF NATIONAL PRIDE
With over four decades and 300 meticulously researched paintings, Hussaini's work goes beyond aesthetic brilliance. His rigorous attention to detail verifying aircraft markings, historical accuracy, atmospheric conditions authentically recreates every scene. His signature pilot-centric approach immerses viewers directly into the cockpit, making them participants in history.
Now residing in Rawalpindi, Hussaini maintains a studio dominated by an 8 by 12foot canvas depicting the 1965 air war's first encounter between Sabres and IAF Hunters. To impart tribute to female PAF pilots, a theme he insists "belonged on my easel long ago." He also mentors young artists through workshops and virtual masterclasses inside and outside the country, emphasizing research discipline: "If you don't know the aircraft, you can't honor the pilot."
During his visit to the Air Headquarters in 2007, the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, expressed the desire to get a picture taken below Hussaini's painting "THE PATHANKOT STRIKE". The Chief of Air Staff along with his top brass joined the President for the snap.
At 74, Hussaini shows no intention of grounding his craft. What propels him now is not sortie quotas or exhibition calendars but a moral imperative: to ensure that sacrifice, bravery, and technical brilliance remain visible to generations who may never hear a J79 engine start up echo across a flight line at dawn.
ON THE PAF'S MOST UNFORGETTABLE DAY, THE QUAID-E-AZAM SETS THE BAR FOR HIS YOUNG NATION'S AIR FORCE
1100 HOURS 13 APRIL 1948 - RPAF STATION, RISALPUR
In an age of digital models and CGI recreations, the tactile permanence of Hussaini's oils stands apart. The texture of his cloudscapes, the shine he applies to a lead wing's boundary layer these are choices guided by a pilot's memory and an artist's intuition. They remind viewers that history is both fact and feeling, and that when a nation looks up, it does so on the shoulders of those who once climbed into cockpits and pointed their noses skyward.
THE PAF’S FIFTY YEARS WITH THE CRESCENT AND STAR