Air Vice Marshal Amolak Singh Rikhy (2024) was commissioned in the Engineering Branch of the Indian Air Force in 1943. During his service, he has held many important field and staff appointments with distinction.

Since 1954 he has served almost continuously on deputation with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., first as General Manager of the Kanpur Division, then briefly as Managing Director of the Nasik, Hyderabad and Koraput Divisions, and from early 1969, as Managing Director of the Bangalore Division.

When Air Vice Marshal Rikhy first joined HAL, the Kanpur Division was in a state of flux as a consequence of its transfer from the Air Force to Company management. AVM Rikhy dealt with its many administrative and technical problems with patience, perseverance and deep understanding. Working conditions and technical practices were greatly improved and there was a four fold increase in production.

The Bangalore Division of HAL has now been under AVM Rikhy's care fro nearly three years. This is the oldest and largest Division of HAL, manufacturing six types of aircraft and three types of engines. Here again, during the period of his stewardship. AVM Rikhy has greatly strengthened the administration and working of aircraft and engine factories.

Wherever he has served, both in the Air Force and in HAL; AVM Rikhy has won the confidence of his colleagues and workers. His high professional knowledge and outstanding ability as an Engineer and a Manager have contributed much to the efficiency of the Air Force and the aircraft industry. He has rendered exceptional service of the most exceptional order.

Air Commodore Chandersekhar Rao Kurpad served in the Technical Signals Branch of the Indian Air Force for 25 years, from 1943 to 1968. During this period he held many staff and field appointments concerned with the training of technical personnel and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment.

In 1965, Air Commodore Kurpad was deputed to Bharat Electronics Ltd., where he was appointed Project Manager with responsibility of progressing the manufacture and supply of vital equipment for the Air Force. In 1964, he was selected to head the planning unit for the electronics factory that was to be set up as part of the MiG-21 project. He was subsequently appointed General Manager of the factory, which became the Hyderabad Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. He served in that capacity on deputation from the Indian Air Force. In 1969 he was appointed Managing Director of the MiG Complex, made up by the Nasik and Koraput Divisions along with Hyderabad Division . That same year, Air Commodore Kurpad was permitted to retire from the Air Force and take up permanent service with HAL.

Throughout his service in the Air Force and on deputation to BEL and HAL, Air Com modore Kurpad has consistently displayed a very high level of professional and managerial ability. He worked quietly, with patience and perseverance, to set up the Air Force's school for electrical and electronic trades. In HAL, his performance as General Manager of the Hyderabad Division and later as Managing Director of the MiG Complex has been outstanding and has contributed a great deal to the success of the MiG project.

Air Commodore Chandersekhar Rao Kurpad has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Commodore Mohan Bhaskaran joined the Indian Air Force as a technician in January, 1936. In recognition of his abilities, he was commissioned into the Technical Engineering Branch in December, 1943. he retired from the IAF in 1958, when he accepted permanent service with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Air Commodore Bhaskaran has had an outstanding career as an Engineer. During World War II he served as an Engineering Officer with an operational squadron in the North-West Frontier Province and in Burma. The technical knowledge, drive and organizing ability that he brought to his task enabled the squadron to maintain the highest serviceability for its type of aircraft tin the theaters where it operated.

After independence, he spent many years in senior engineering appointments at major Air Force flying bases and Repair Depots. During this period, he made very significant contributions to improving the maintenance organisation of the Air Force.

In 1963 Air Commodore Bhaskaran was placed in-charge of a project team for the setting up of an airframe factory for the manufacture of the MiG-21 aircraft in India. In the following years, he was appointed General Manager of the Factory, which became the Nasik Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. He continues to be in that appointment to this day.

Manufacture of sophisticated aircraft such as the MiG-21 calls for technical and managerial ability of the highest order. Air Commodore Bhaskaran has displayed these qualities in ample measure. Construction of the airframe factory began in 1964, and the first aircraft was delivered from it two years later, in 1966. In the intervening period, Air Commodore Bhaskaran trained his workmen, erected the manufacturing plant and initiated the assembly and testing of aircraft more or less simultaneously. Thereafter, he has consistently fulfilled the manufacture programme despite many difficulties inherent in a sophisticated project of this type. Credit for this is due to Air Commodore Bhaskaran's untiring efforts and unremitting zeal.

Air Commodore Bhaskaran has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Group Captain Prabhu Datt Chopra was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force in September, 1947. He has been the General Manager of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Kanpur Division, since December 1967. Prior to that date he had served with distinction in various units of the Air Force and also in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as Factory Manager of the Kanpur Division. When it was decided to manufacture Gnat and subsequently the HS-748 aircraft in the country, he was selected as the technical representative on the Project Team in the United Kingdom. It is to his credit that the manufacture of these two aircraft and the buildup of the Kanpur factory, allied facilities and the smooth transfer of technology was accomplished. During his stewardship, the Kanpur factory has grown from strength to strength. His main contributions have been increased indigenous content and manufacture of hundreds of components from raw materials. He has also brought about a marked improvement in the workers' productivity largely by improved technology and by his personal guidance. He enjoys the confidence of his colleagues and workers. He is one of the outstanding executives of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, possessing qualities, as a manager and technologist, which are worth emulation. By his devotion to duty and personal qualities, he has enriched the profession and helped build the Air Force and Civil Aviation. He has made a signal contribution to the aircraft industry and the Air Force.