Wing Commander Vinod Kumar Parashar (6416) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in Dec 61. He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College Wellington and has held various Command and Staff appointments with distinction. Presently, he is holding the appointment of Production Planning and Co-coordinating officer at one of the Base Repair Depots.

In Nov 84, the Base Repair Depot was called upon to accomplish a unique engineering feat in the annals of our aviation history. The project called for modification of Mi-8 Helicopter for Special Heliborne Operations (SHBO) by installing dispensing devices for spraying thousands of Ltrs of special fluid over a specific area in about thirty seconds. The time limit for accomplishing the task was very critical and the work had to be undertaken on a war footing.

The operational requirements (ORs) being very stringent project needed deep study and analysis. Wg Cdr Parashar went ahead methodically, carried out a number of experiments on the ground, using com pressed air pressure for spray initially. Further scientific study of various parameters brought about spectacular improvements. It needed indepth study of hydraulics, behavior of fluid spread under various conditions, particularly under helicopter hover to study the effect of down-draught. Installation of tanks, pumps and pipe structures etc was done ensuring rigidity under actual operational flying conditions. Final configuration could only be arrived at, after a number of unsuccessful attempts. Wg Cdr Parashar did not give up but went ahead with unflinching vigour using scientific methods.

As the time-schedule was very tight, Wg Cdr Parashar and his team put in prolonged hours of work extending beyond midnight hours which he did, disregarding personal comfort.

In the above task, Wg Cdr Vinod Kumar Parashar has achieved a rare distinction shown a very high degree of technical capability and devotion to duty. The President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wing Commander Ganaprakasam James Williams.