Aviation Art by Group Captain Syed Masood Akhtar Hussaini
Group Captain Syed Masood Akhtar Hussaini is the Official Military Aviation Artist of the Pakistan Air Force. Born in January 1951, he joined PAF College, Sargodha in 1963 and was commissioned as a pilot in March 1971 at the PAF Academy, Risalpur, gaining a Bachelor's degree from that institution. In 1973 he qualified as an Air Defence Weapons Controller, a capacity in which he continued to serve until his retirement in 2000.
Hussainis art work has appeared in several other publications. On the 40th anniversary of the PAF, the Government of Pakistan issued ten commemorative postage stamps, all bearing miniaturised prints of his aviation paintings. Several exhibitions of his art have been held. Hussaini is well-known in foreign countries. His paintings are displayed in the air force premises of Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, the UK, the USA and Zimbabwe.
In 1987, the President of Pakistan conferred on him the Tamgha-i-Basalat in recognition of his contribution 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 Artist has honoured him with their fellowship after his work was displayed at an American exhibition.
Hussaini is a realist in the tradition of the leading aviation artist of the United States Keith Ferris, Frank Wootton of the UK and Paul Langeley of France. Ferris was the first professional artist to recognise Hussaini's extraordinary talent and became his friend and mentor. Hussaini shares with these aviation artists the outstanding ability for using the aerial points of view that are both unusual and dramatic, perspectives that impart a sense of speed and excitement on the scene. Although retired from active air force duty, Hussaini's commitment to art and the PAF continues with undiminished vigour.
PAF Falcons - Picture Gallery - Aviation Art by Group Captain Syed Masood Akhtar Hussaini