Wing Commander Pirthi Singh was commissioned as a Pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in April, 1953. He has been on deputation to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore Division since 7th December, 1970 as a test pilot. During this tenure, he has done 669 hours of test flying consisting of prototype and production testing. He has been actively associated with development work on the HF-24 Trainer, Kiran aircraft and larger external fuel tank tests on the Gnat aircraft. He has displayed a high degree of skill and intelligence during the conduct of this very exacting and difficult task. He has also been associated with prototype trials of Boosters for an operational type of aircraft and he successfully carried out the first flight with this device.

Throughout, Wing Commander Pirthi Singh has displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Padmanabha Ashoka was commissioned as a Pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in January 1954. His services were loaned to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in August, 1968. As the Chief Test Pilot of Kanpur Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, he carried out all test flying connected with the HS-748 freighter aircraft right from the clearance of prototype to the completion of freighter trials. This involved 40 sorties averaging at 35 to 40 minutes duration each besides 5 hours of initial clearance flying. Without any past flying experience in paratrooping or supply dropping missions, he carried out flying with an extremely high standard of accuracy and completed the task ahead of schedule. During the trials, he also developed flying technique for paratrooping and supply dropping which produced excellent results. He carried out the proto type testing with doors open on both sides for the first time on HS-748 aircraft. Automatic aerial delivery system required flying the aircraft at a nose up altitude for automatic ejection of loads. He carefully analysed the flying requirement and developed a flying technique which produced excellent results in supply dropping exercises.

Throughout, Wing Commander Padmanabha Ashoka displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Brijesh Dhar Jayal was commissioned as a Pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in October, 1955. He has been on deputation to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Nasik Division, from the 15th January, 1969 to the 19th April, 1972 and to Bangalore Division from the 20th April, 1972 onwards. Throughout his tenure at Nasik Division, he had exhibited great competence and quality in test flying of MiG 21 aircraft. A total of 606 sorties comprising 424.25 hours of test flying on MiG 21 aircraft were carried out by him which also includes testing of aircraft entirely manufactured in India. During his tenure at Bangalore, he has shown great skill and determination in flight testing of different types of aircraft and has carried out 465.15 hours. He has been associated with the critical phase of development testing including jettisoning of external fuel tanks from Kiran and Gnat aircraft during which he has displayed keen aptitude and high degree of skill. His meticulous planning and very good execution enabled the Sea level trials on the prototype Agricultural aircraft to be completed successfully within a very short time.

Throughout, Wing Commander Brijesh Dhar Jayal displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Vijay Anant Joshi was commissioned in the IAF on 28th October 1963. He has held the appointments of Flight Commander of S-22 and MiG-21 Squadrons and has undergone flying courses abroad. He graduated as Production Test Pilot in 1976. Thereafter he was posted as Senior Test Pilot in HAL Nasik Division and he logged over 600 hrs of test flying on all variants of MiG21 aircraft.

During his test flying tenure at HAL, the officer tackled number of grave emergencies with proficiency and skill, thereby managing to execute safe landings. In all these emergencies, Wg Cdr Joshi showed a clear sense of judgment, professional capability and saved valuable aircraft.

For having consistently displayed high professional skill, sustained devotion to duty and exemplary record as a Production Test Pilot, the President is pleased to award Vayu Sena Medal to Wing Commander Vijay Anant Joshi.