The HAL built Ajeet Trainer is one of the odd-ball aircraft in the IAF's history. Only two examples were inducted and they were introduced at the fag end of the career of a legendary fighter. Wg Cdr A K (Lui) Gupta goes over their short career in the IAF - which lasted less than four years!
The much awaited sequel to the delightful "Panther Red One: Memoirs of a Fighter Pilot". The author Air Marshal S Raghavendran is the retired Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force. In this sequel, he chronicles his career where the first book left off. Covering the staff and operational command appointments, the Air Marshal holds no punches in describing the disconnect between the government bureaucracy and the Defence procurement and planning wings.
A history by P.R. Ganapathy
Reviewed by Anandeep Pannu
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In the 1950s it was not uncommon for IAF aircraft to undertake "force landings" in the country side. Squadron Leader Kesavachandran narrates the story of an 'expedition' to document the evidence for a Court of Inquiry - much before the advent of GPS, handheld cameras, digitial media and the social media.
The episode of blowing up at sea of a Portuguese Patrol Boat laden with explosives off Diu by IAF on 18 Dec 1961. First person account of the sinking of NRP Vega during the Diu Operations in 1961. Air Marshal P M Ramachandran, PVSM AVSM SC VM narrates his story of that eventful sortie from 18th December 1961.
Lawrence Frederic Pereira 8678 F(P) was a Forward Air Controller with an Armoured Brigade in the Shakargarh Sector during the 1971 War. He lost his life in an enemy air attack and today lies at rest in Jalandhar.
With a heavy heart, we learnt about the passing away of Wing Commander Hoshang Patel of Bombay. He passed away today 25th January 2017, at the age of 96. A WW2 veteran airman and pilot who served in two tours in Burma, one of the few to do it as both an erk as well as a pilot. Hoshang Sir was the one who gave the spark to the fire of WW2 research that this website has carried out over the years.
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC is the new Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force
Reviewed by Anandeep Pannu
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A chance discussion with a local got a tourist to click photographs of an intriguing helicopter wreck in a remote part of Ladakh.