The Blue Skies Podcast

In the last and final part of our interview with Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, we discuss his experiences inducting the Jaguar into IAF service. We also discuss his role in the repatriation of Flt. Lt. Nachiketa, during the Kargil War.

In Part 3 of our interview with Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, we discuss his experiences training with the Royal Air Force on the Jaguar Aircraft. He was among the first batch of 12 pilots to be trained on that deep penetration strike aircraft. Learn how he was taught to drop "bombs in a bucket" from the RAF. 

In Part 2 of this 3-part interview with former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, we discuss the inter-war years, when he become a Pilot Attack Instructor, Instructor in the PAI school, participated in the 1971 War for the Liberation of Bangladesh, and became a Fighter Combat Leader. 

Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, PVSM, AVSM, VM, joins us for a series of interviews on his career and experiences. In Part 1, we speak about his initial journey into the Air Force, and experiences flying Hunters in a frontline squadron during the 65 War with Pakistan. Air Chief Marshal Tyagi's profile is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/8130 and his bio is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/personnel/chiefs/shashi-tyagi/

This week's guest, AVM Samir Borade, VSM, speaks about the technical branch in the Indian Air Force. We learn about first, second, third and fourth line servicing, the MiG-29 Upgrade program, technical branch and flight safety, and the challenges of indigenization. AVM Borade's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/18761Read about the MiG-29 UPG program here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Galleries/Aircraft/Current/Fighters/MiG29UPG/

This episode is a narration of an article written by Air Mshl Harish Masand, himself a veteran of the 1971 War where he shot down a Sabre, on what might have transpired in AB Devayya's final sortie. 

In this episode, aviation historian PVS Jagan Mohan joins me and we make an attempt to unravel the mystery behind the death of Sqn. Ldr. AB Devayya, MVC (Posthumous) on 7th Sept, 1965. The episodes includes interviews with officers who served with him, including on that fateful day.Sqn. Ldr. Devayya's profile is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/4810The India Today article Jagan references is here: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/19880415-squadron-leader-ayamada-bopayya-devayya-honoured-23-years-after-his-death-797132-1988-04-14

This week we speak to Wg. Cdr. SS Krishnamurthy, who is the young flying officer peering over Maj. Gen. JFR Jacob's shoulder in that iconic photograph of the surrender of Pakistan's Army in Dacca in December 1971. He talks of that experience, flying helicopters in Car Nicobar and the Antarctic, and more.Wg. Cdr. Krishnamurthy's profile is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/11660A link to his book is here: https://www.amazon.in/dp/1648288391/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_DC5WG0V97EXE394966E4

In this episode, we speak to Air Mshl Anil Khosla, who recently retired as Vice Chief of Air Staff. Besides his experiences as a young officer, we focus on the role he played in the Doklam stand-off (when he was C-in-C Eastern Air Command) and the strike at Balakot (when he was Vice Chief). We also discuss the pros and cons of indigenous vs imported weapons platforms, the future of air war, and the Air Force's talent strategy, among other things.Air Mshl Khosla's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/15871His blog can be found here: https://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/00:00:00 Introduction00:01:00 Initial journey into IAF00:13:14 Doklam incident00:16:01 How to deal with China00:19:09 Balakot00:28:46 Maintain a tech edge00:43:46 Future of air war00:53:30 Finding talent for the IAF

In this weekend's episode, we speak to Air Cmde BS Siwach about a daring rescue from Mt. Nunkun, flying helicopters in the North East, VIP flying and most importantly, his role as the Air Force commander of the UN forces in Sierra Leone during Op Khukri, the daring rescue of our trapped soldiers. Air Cmde Siwach's profile is here. You can read more about Op Khukri here.00:00:00 Introduction00:02:16 Initial journey into IAF00:08:55 Flying in the North East00:14:38 Rescue on Mt. Nunkun00:22:18 Safety consideration in Helo ops00:24:11 Humanitarian relief operations00:29:35 VIP Flying00:39:56 Thoughts on Gen Rawat's accident00:47:24 Op Khukri

Guest host and aviation historian Anchit Gupta takes us through the organization of the Air Forces in India prior to Independence.

In this interview we change gears to understand now a Surface to Air Missile (SAM) or Surface to Air Guided Weapon (SAGW) works. In an interview with a past guest of the program, Gp. Capt. Anil Kumar ("Toots") Ghosh, who commanded an SA-2 Dvina unit, we understand the intricacies of ground based detection of hostile targets and defence against them.Learn more about the SA-2 Dvina here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-75_Dvina

In Part 2 of the 2-part interview with Air Marshal BD Jayal, we discuss his leading the Jaguar Project Team (JPT) in the UK, how the IAF anticipates equipment requirements and plans for it, and what should be done about the threat environment in the Indian sub-continent. Air Marshal Jayal's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/4972A compilation of his writings in the Times of India are here, and in the Telegraph are here.

This week's interview is Part 1 of a 2-part interview with a legend of the IAF, Air Marshal BD Jayal. From a Tiger Moth to Mirage 2000 and everything in between, Air Marshal Jayal has flown it, 77 types and 4,200 hours, in fact. In Part 1 we discuss his early experiences flying Toofanis and Mysteres, converting to the MiG-21 in the Soviet Union as part of the first batch of Indians to train there, and becoming a test pilot. Part 2, covering Jaguar induction, Defence procurement, the Indian threat environment, etc., will come out next week. Air Marshal Jayal's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/4972A compilation of his writings in the Times of India are here,  and in the Telegraph are here.

This week's interview features Wg. Cdr. Jai Singh Gahlawat, who saw action flying Hunters during the 1971 War for the Liberation Bangladesh, for which he was awarded a Vir Chakra. In great detail, he takes us with him as he mounts attacks deep in West Pakistan. Wg. Cdr. Gahlawat is also one of the Air Force's few A1 instructors, and we discuss those experiences too.Wg. Cdr. Gahlawat's profile is here. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/11280. His Vir Chakra citation is a really thrilling read.00:00:00 Guest introduction, journey into IAF00:13:13 Commencement of hostilities00:15:50 First mission: Strike Sakesar Radar00:36:52 Destroying bridge in Kathua00:43:38 Being attacked by 6 Mirages00:48:00 Destroying tanks in Chhamb00:53:10 Nearly shot down own Hunters00:56:06 Becoming an A-1 Instructor

This episode features an interview with Gp. Capt. Sunil Palkar (Retd.), who was a Navigator on AN-12 aircraft during the 1971 war with Bangladesh and was in the lead aircraft for the famous Tangail paradrop. In addition to that mission, we discuss navigation in the AN-12, flying Caribous in the North East, Electronic Intelligence gathering, flying VIPs in the Boeing 737, etc. 

This week's episode features PVS Jagan Mohan, co-author of "The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965", "Eagles over Bangladesh" and "The Westland Wapiti in the Indian Air Force" and others. He is also a pillar of the IAF section of the Bharat Rakshak website, and runs https://www.warbirdsofindia.com/ which documents locations of former military aircraft. 

In this episode, we speak to Wg. Cdr. Namrita Chandi, who was among the first few batches of lady officers commissioned into the flying branch. Over 15 years in uniform, she flew over 2,000 hours in Chetaks and Cheetahs from the heights of Siachen to the deserts of Rajasthan.Wg. Cdr. Chandi's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/24109

On 29 July, 1987, India first inducted troops into Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). Almost exactly 35 years later, we interview Gp. Capt Anil Kumar "Toots" Ghosh, who served two tenures as Base Commander as part of the IPKF. Gp. Capt. Ghosh's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/6525A gallery of photos on the IPKF is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/Galleries/Wars/SriLanka/

In this episode we return to a former guest, AVM Sunil Nanodkar, and do a deep dive into the first time the IAF participated in an exercise with friendly forces in the US, Cope Thunder, in Alaska. We understand what is meant by trail planning, the challenges of the long ferry, the missions they flew before and during the exercise, and the lessons learnt. AVM Nanodkar's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16555More on Cope Thunder is here: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/cope-thunder.htm

In this episode, we interview Air Marshal HN Bhagwat, PVSM, AVSM, VM (Retd)., a pioneer of low-altitude Para Jumping in the Indian Air Force. We speak about his initial career as an ATC Officer, Para jumping, the Akash Ganga skydiving team, and commanding the Garud Regimental Training Center. Air Mshl Bhagwat's profile may be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16423

This week we interview star helicopter test pilot, Wg Cdr. CD Upadhyay, Vr. C. Wg. Cdr. Upadhyay saw action flying Mi-8s in support of the army during Op Pawan in Sri Lanka, for which he was awarded a Vr. C. He was also involved with extensively flight testing the ALH Dhruv, including participating in the first flight. His profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/1133600:00:00 - 00:14:05 Introduction, initial journey into IAF00:14:05 - 00:18:56 Becoming a test pilot00:18:56 - 00:30:13 Return to ASTE, test flying00:30:13 - 00:36:20 IPKF in Sri Lanka00:36:20 - 00:51:45 Involvement with ALH program00:51:45 - 01:10:36 First flight of Dhruv

Welcome to Season 2! We begin this season with a bang, interviewing Gp. Capt. K. Nachiketa, who had a flame out in his MiG-27 while conducting a rocket attack on Pakistani positions during the Kargil conflict. He ejected from his aircraft and unfortunately landed in enemy  territory, where he was taken prisoner. Gp. Capt. Nachiketa's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/22930An account of his experiences is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/1064-nachiketa.html#gsc.tab=0

In this episode, we interview three well-known aviation photographers on their experiences and some secrets of capturing good military aviation photographs. Kedar Karmakar, based in CaliforniaAngad Singh, based in Delhi NCRSanjay Simha, based in BangaloreThe youtube version of their interview contains some of their most spectacular photographs, and can be viewed here.This is the last episode in Season 1, we will be taking a break for a few months. In the meantime, listen to past episodes, and test your knowledge with a quiz! www.blueskiespodcast.com/quiz

In this episode, we interview amateur IAF historian and author KS Sreekumar Nair. "Sree" wrote "The Forgotten Few: The Indian Air Force's Contribution in the Second World War" which was published by Harper Collins in 2019, and has just recently released "December In Dacca: The Indian Armed Forces and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War". We talk about the history of military aviation in the Indian sub-continent, Indians flying in the RFC and RAF, the first officers and men selected for the Indian Air Force, and the fledgling IAF's stellar contributions during World War 2, especially in the India-Burma-China theatre.You can buy his books here:Forgotten Few: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B07TM9L9QS/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1December in Dacca: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B09ML2WH68/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

This episode provides a very different perspective on military aviation: the home front. In a conversation with 3 wives of military aviators, we understand how they deal with frequent moves, children's education, sacrificing their careers, and the ever present danger in their husband's professions.The interview features Mrs. Sharmila Roychowdhury, whose husband, DR Roychowdhury, died in an aircrash in 1997 (http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/14678); Mrs. Sheela Jaywant, whose husband Wg Cdr CM Jaywant, was a guest on this program;  Mrs. Swaroopa Nanodkar, whose husband, AVM Sunil Nanodkar, was a guest on this program. 

In Part 2 of our interview with Air Mshl Raghu Nambiar, we discuss his legendary exploits with the Mirage 2000, the Litening Targeting Pod and Laser Guided Bombs in Kargil. View the footage of his LGB drop here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-9bs3HCqfQAir Marshal Nambiar's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16378

Another episode you've been waiting for! Air Marshal Raghu Nambiar, an experimental test pilot with many years of operational experience on the Mirage 2000, joins us for an in-depth conversation on that exciting aircraft. He was also closely involved with the prototype develop of the LCA, was one of the first two test pilots who flew the first prototype, and saw it reach operational status during his service - in this interview we cover his experiences with the LCA Tejas too. In Part 2, which will be released next weekend, we will discuss his experiences using the Mirage 2000 in the Kargil war, where he used precision weapons to hit targets at significant altitude, thereby reversing the course of the war.Air Marshal Nambiar's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16378

In this episode, we interview Wg. Cdr. (Retd) BS Singh Deo, VM, a veteran helicopter pilot with the Indian Air Force, Pawan Hans and later Bell Helicopters. He speaks of his experiences as a young Mi-4 pilot supporting the Army in western Rajasthan during the 1971 war, flying the Mi-4, Chetak, Mi-8, Mi-17 and Westland WG-30, becoming a test pilot, becoming an A-1 instructor and examiner, and much more. Wg. Cdr. Singh Deo's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/12189

In this week's interview (our 52nd! Thank you!), we return to the sea and the Indian Navy's sub-hunting ASW fleet of Kamov helicopters with Rear Admiral Sanjay Vadgaokar. He describes flying this odd looking aircraft, how detecting and destroying submarines works, and the selection of the Kamov 31 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Helicopter. He was commissioned into the Navy in 1975, flew over 5,000 hours, and his last aviation related post was ACNS (Aviation).

This is the episode you've all been waiting for! We interview Air Cmde NS Jamwal, a test pilot who trained on the Su-30K, then converted to the Su-30MKI and commanded the first squadron. He was also the designated demo pilot of that aircraft.Air Cmde Jamwal's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/17156A flying demo of the Su-30MKI featuring the Loop, Tumble and Yaw can be seen here: https://youtu.be/xeLkzJ9nk7I

This week, we speak to a veteran of the IAF's transport fleet - light, medium and heavy transport aircraft like the Dakota, Dornier-228, HS-748, AN-32 and IL-76, Gp Capt RK Sharma. He was an instructor and examiner on many of these types, and landed the first Dornier 228 at Leh and Thoise, far in excess of the aircraft manufacturer's published limits of performance. Gp Capt Sharma's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16050More about the Do-228 can be found here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/aircraft/specs/573-dornier-228.html and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_228

In the final interview of the series on the LCA Tejas, we interview Wg. Cdr. Rajiv Kothiyal, KC, the test pilot who was at the controls at the first flight of the aircraft. Trained at the USAF Test Pilot's school at Edwards Air Force Base, Wg. Cdr. Kothiyal was awarded a Kirti Chakra for the first flight, and the prestigious Ivan C. Kinchloe Award for outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, SETP. A full video of his first flight is here: https://youtu.be/U_7HGD61wLQWg. Cdr. Kothiyal's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/15696

Part 2 of the interview on the LCA with Cmde Jaideep Maolankar focuses on the requirements, challenges and journey of the Naval version of the LCA. View a video of his first deck landing here: https://youtu.be/WgcAQrTvs8gAnd the first takeoff here: https://youtu.be/Iw6tLOMZzbI

Former Guest and Naval Fighter / Test pilot Cmde Jaideep Maolankar joins us for the last few episodes on the LCA. In his usual lucid style, he speaks about his experiences test flying the LCA, how he leveraged his experience of the Limited Upgrade of Sea Harrier (LUSH) program for integrating the Derby missile on the Tejas, and the essence of flying demonstrations, especially the Bahrain flying demo that can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W23mLABs5oMore about the LCA project can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas

Continuing our miniseries on the LCA Tejas, we change gears slightly to interview Wg. Cdr. PK Raveendran, SC, a past guest on the program. Wg. Cdr. Raveendran was the Flight Test Director at the time of the LCA's first flight, and for many years thereafter. The full video of the LCA first flight, where he was the Flight Test Director who gave the "Clear to Go" command, can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_7HGD61wLQ&t=388sWg. Cdr. Raveendran's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/12821

In Part 4 of the miniseries on the LCA Tejas, we speak with Gp Capt Ritu Raj Tyagi, a former Jaguar pilot and test pilot who flew more than 650+ test flights on the LCA, the most by any pilot. Given his Jaguar background, he was involved with a significant portion of testing Air to Surface weapons, but also got to fire many Air to Air weapons too, including this breathtaking dual firing at Iron Fist 2013, which he describes in the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXGV9o8L_sYGp Capt Tyagi's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/18571We apologise in advance for poor audio quality. This was the only way we could get him on record... The alternative was to drop him the miniseries which we were loath to do. However, a transcript is available here: https://blueskiespodcast.com/transcripts

In Part 3 of the miniseries on the LCA Tejas, we speak with Air Cmde Harish Nayani, a past guest on the program. He talks about the first flight of PV-3, developing the MFDs for the Tejas, demonstrating the aircraft at Aero India, and firing the R-73 All Aspect Air to Air Missile. Air Cmde Nayani's profile can be found here: Air Cmde Nayani's bio can be seen at this link: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/17135

In Part 2 of our series of interviews on the LCA Tejas, we speak with Gp Capt Suneet Krishna, a test pilot who was in the rear seat of the chase aircraft and filmed the first flight. He went on to participate extensively in the testing of the LCA, survived a dangerous dual hydraulic failure, performed various trials such as formation flying, carefree maneuvering, firing various weapons such as R-73 Air to Air missile using a Helmet Mounted Display, and firing a Laser Guided Bomb.Gp Capt Krishna's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/20472

In Part 1 of a miniseries on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), christened Tejas, we speak to Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM, who was closely involved with the development of the aircraft in multiple roles, most importantly as head of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) that was dedicated to the flight testing of the aircraft.Air Mshl Rajkumar co-authored an authoritative book on the project, "Tejas: Radiance in Indian Skies", produced by Desidoc, which can be ordered here or the first few pages downloaded for free.More about the LCA project can be found here.

We return to one of our earliest guests, Air Mshl Philip Rajkumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM. His episode on the Sargodha raid during the India-Pak war of 1965 was covered here and remains the most popular Blueskies episode to date.In this episode, we discuss his test flying career, including training at EPNER, France, test flying early versions of the MiG-21, various evaluation trials he participated in, such as MiG-23, Advanced Jet Trainer, etc. Our interview continued into his involvement with, and leadership of the Flight Test effort on, the LCA, which will be released next weekend as part of a series on the LCA / Tejas.Air Mshl Rajkumar's profile can be found here. 

We interview AVM (Retd) SC Chafekar, AVSM, SC. He speaks about his initial journey into the Air Force, flying Otters single pilot in the North East, an incident where his AN-32 was hit by a Stinger missile, and how he planned and executed the first-ever landing of an AN-32 in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), Fukche and Nyoma ALGs in Ladakh. He also speaks about the IAF's HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations, induction of the C-17, C-130 and more. AVM Chafekar's profile is available here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/17013The video of the C-17 landing in Mechuka is here: https://youtu.be/N2F7qdTRBIIA video of the C-130 landing at DBO is here: https://youtu.be/7KUprBZsdcIHis book "Shades of Blue" may be purchased by calling or messaging Rajhans Publications at 9372225201. 

We interview Wg. Cdr. PK Raveendran, a Flight Engineer on board the ill-fated TU-124 "Pushpaka" which crashed in Jorhat with the Prime Minister on Board. In addition to the crash, he talks of his career as a Flight Engineer on Packets, becoming a Flight Test Engineer in France, and more. Wg. Cdr. Raveendran's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/12821His account of the Pushpaka crash is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1970s/1364-jorhat-crash.html#gsc.tab=0An article on Klopfstein he wrote for the Society of Flight Test Engineers, India Chapter, is here: https://www.sfte-india.in/a-tribute-to-a-maverick-flight-test-engineer-test-pilot-and-professor-of-aeronautics-all-rolled-into-one-monsieur-gilbert-klopfstein/Wg. Cdr. Raveendran played a critical role in the Flight Testing for the LCA, and his interview on those experiences will appear as part of the series on the LCA, in January. 

1971 war veteran Air Vice Marshal Jagbir Singh recounts his experiences operating hunters from Jaisalmer. He talks of hitting tanks in Longewala, hitting the Sui Gas Plant, hitting a tank train carrying Pakistan's strategic reserve, and more... AVM Jagbir Singh's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/5783More about Longewala is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1971war/1282-kukke-suresh.html and here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1971war/1281-longewala-saga.html#gsc.tab=0

In a long but fascinating interview with Cmde Jaideep "Mao" Maolankar, we discuss Naval Aviation and how it is different from the Air Force or Army Aviation, his path into that branch of the Navy, his initial training and experiences flying the Sea Harrier, Dissimilar Combat (DACT) with the Air Force's TACDE ("Top Gun" school),  becoming a test pilot, flight testing the MiG-29, integrating new systems into the Sea Harrier, and his initial involvement with the LCA. In another interview that will be released as part of a mini-series on the LCA / Tejas, we will discuss his experience of flight testing that aircraft. Cmde Maolankar can be followed on twitter at https://twitter.com/JA_Maolankar

In this episode, we interview Wg. Cdr. Vinayak Davray, who was commissioned as a Navigator into the Indian Air Force in 1963. After a long a successful career on Dakotas and Canberras, he moved to civil aviation, where he played a key role in the growth of Civil Aviation Departments of several countries around the world. He also trained as an Aircraft Accident Investigator in the US, and led / participated in several important accident investigations.His profile may be found here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/7475A link to the Gulf Air A320 crash is here: https://wiki2.org/en/Gulf_Air_Flight_072A link to the mid-air crash between a TU-154M and  B757 is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_%C3%9Cberlingen_mid-air_collision

In this episode, we interview Air Marshal Sumit Mukherji, who is perhaps one of the few officers to have commanded and actively flown every type of MiG in the Indian Air Force's inventory - MiG-21, 23, 25, 27 and 29. In this interview, among other things, he talks about force landing a Kiran with a seized engine, flying the MiG-25 Foxbat, and commanding a MiG-29 Fulcrum squadron. Air Marshal Mukherji's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/12925His excellent Hush-Kit article on the Foxbat is here: https://hushkit.net/2018/12/12/loneliness-at-mach-3-interview-with-a-mig-25-foxbat-pilot/

The induction of a new aircraft is always an interesting phase in military aviation. In this episode we speak to Air Cmde Harish Nayani, a test pilot who participated in the significant upgrade to the MiG-21 BIS that resulted in the MiG-21 Bison and was one of the first officers to command a Bison squadron. Through this interview, we will learn about how such upgrades are planned and executed. Air Cmde Nayani's bio can be seen at this link: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/17135More about the MiG-21 Bison upgrade program is available at this link: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/aircraft/current/605-bison.html

In this episode we return to that versatile deep penetration strike platform of the IAF, the Jaguar, with AVM Sunil Jayant Nanodkar. In 2003, AVM Nanodkar led a contingent of 6 Jaguars to Alaska to participate in exercise Red Flag with friendly NATO forces. He speaks this, and other experiences in his long career in the Air Force in this interview.AVM Nanodkar's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16555More about Red Flag can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Flag_%E2%80%93_Alaska

Continuing our theme of "Helicopter Month", we interview Capt. P Rajkumar, a veteran of the Indian Navy with over 5,400 hours of military aviation experience. He was awarded a Nao Sena Medal for rescuing four scientists stranded on a mountain in white-out conditions in Antarctica, and a Shaurya Chakra for saving lives of fishermen off the coast of Trivandrum after Hurricane Ockhi in 2017. He speaks of these and other experiences, including Anti-Submarine Warfare, in this interview. 

No discussion on Helicopters in Indian military aviation can be complete without talking about their employment in the Siachen Glacier. This week, continuing "Helicopter Month", we speak to Gp Capt Nitin Welde about his experiences flying Chetaks and Cheetahs all around the country, particularly in the Siachen Glacier. Gp Capt Welde's bio can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/23193