Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, who ascended the throne at the young age of nine, made headlines in 1910 by becoming the first Indian and possibly the first Asian to privately own aircraft. His fascination with aviation was sparked by French aviator Louis Blériot's historic crossing of the English Channel in 1909. In a bold move, he sent his chief engineer to Europe to acquire three planes, including two Henry Farman biplanes and a Blériot XI monoplane. Known for his opulent lifestyle, the Maharaja traveled with a convoy of Rolls-Royce cars and maintained an impressive collection of luxury vehicles and nearly 500 polo ponies. His royal court became synonymous with the early aviation movement in India, with pilot Man Mohan Singh later appointed as his personal pilot. Although the Maharaja did not personally fly the planes, he served on the British General Staff during World War I, earning several military honors. Today, Bhupinder Singh remains a captivating figure in India's royal history, celebrated for his contributions to aviation and his extravagant lifestyle.