Hyderabad: Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh completed his final flying sortie in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, flying the HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer with the instructor, who taught him to fly more than four decades ago.
The 55-minute sortie was flown in aircraft bearing Tail No. U 707 alongside Wing Commander V. S. Kochar (Retd), his first flying instructor.
Air Chief Marshal Singh received a water-cannon salute after landing.
“I started my journey with the same aircraft.
I think I must be the only Chief, who is retiring on the basic aircraft he flew is still serving,” Air Chief Marshal Singh told reporters after the flight.
He thanked Wg Cdr Kochar for teaching him to fly at Dundigal and said he wanted to complete the circle.
Air Chief Marshal Singh undertook his first flying sortie on January 28, 1984, at the same academy, where he graduated with the Sword of Honour.
More than 42 years later, the final flight reunited him with his instructor and the Kiran, the trainer aircraft, in which his flying journey began.
Kochar described Singh as the “brightest pupil ever” and the “best chief,” adding that getting “one more trip” with him was a dream come true, according to news reports.
The sortie paid tribute to the IAF’s flying-training tradition and the role of instructors in mentoring generations of aircrew.
The instructors remain mentors throughout an aircrew member’s professional life.
The flight followed Air Chief Marshal Singh’s final fighter-jet sortie in an indigenous Tejas, during Exercise Tarang Shakti, at Jodhpur Air Force Station on October 12.
The Kiran flight at Dundigal marked the conclusion of his flying journey in IAF aircraft, ahead of his scheduled superannuation on October 31, DPRO official Siva Kumar Naik said.
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