Squadron Leader Padmanabha Ashoka has been actively associated with flight test duties in a Testing Unit. He has been largely responsible for expanding the flight envelope of the HF-24 aircraft. He has also been responsible for recommending a modification for better rates of roll on this aircraft. Due to his efforts, enough information on single engine performance, radii of action in the ground attack role, thrust boundaries, techniques for aerobatic manoeuvres etc of HF-24 aircraft was gathered, thus assuring in getting the aircraft operational early.

Throughout Squadron Leader Padmanabha Ashoka displayed professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

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.