The 79th Pilot's Course joined the Air Force Flying College, Jodhpur, on Monday, 4th January 1960. The course had 43 cadets (direct entry, ex-NDA, ex-NCC and ex-airmen), four Air Force, seven Naval and two Army officers.
This was the first and only course which did the basic, inter and advanced stages at the AFFC, flying the HT-2, T-6G and Vampire. Another first was that the whole course flew the Vampire and bifurcation to the fighter and transport streams took place after the advanced stage.
Of the original entry of 56 in all, 38 (including two Army officers) completed training successfully. We were particularly fortunate that there were no fatalities during the training stage.
The passing out parade was held on 31 May 1961 at Jodhpur. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Aspy Engineer DFC, reviewed the parade which was commanded by Senior Under Officer Vinod Patney. Vinod Patney was awarded the President's Plaque for being the best all round pupil pilot, Derrick Roach stood first in order of merit and Suresh Sonpar won the most promising pilot’s trophy.
For all of us it was a proud moment when the CAS pinned the hard earned pilot’s brevet on our chests and an equally proud moment for the Flt Cdts who were commissioned as Pilot Officers into the Indian Air Force. As the ex-Flt Cdts, now Plt Offrs, slow marched past the saluting dais to ‘Auld Lang Syne’, 16 T-6G Texans flew overhead in a '79‘ formation.
The bifurcation resulted in 16 Plt Offrs of the course going onto to the applied stage at the Jet Training Wing, Hakimpet, and 13 to the Transport Training Wing, Begumpet. The two Army officers left after the basic stage having completed their training. Three AF and four Naval officers continued with the course at Hakimpet but one of the Naval officers dropped out at Hakimpet.
Of the Air Force officers, three became Air Marshals, Shashi Ramdas, Vinod Patney and MS Vasudeva. The rest either superannuated or sought fame and fortune as civilians on early, voluntary release from the Air Force.
The three naval officers flew the Seahawk off INS Vikrant. The two Army officers flew with the Air OP.
The Golden Jubilee of the course is being celebrated on 31 May 2011.
This was the first and only course which did the basic, inter and advanced stages at the AFFC, flying the HT-2, T-6G and Vampire. Another first was that the whole course flew the Vampire and bifurcation to the fighter and transport streams took place after the advanced stage.
Of the original entry of 56 in all, 38 (including two Army officers) completed training successfully. We were particularly fortunate that there were no fatalities during the training stage.
The passing out parade was held on 31 May 1961 at Jodhpur. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Aspy Engineer DFC, reviewed the parade which was commanded by Senior Under Officer Vinod Patney. Vinod Patney was awarded the President's Plaque for being the best all round pupil pilot, Derrick Roach stood first in order of merit and Suresh Sonpar won the most promising pilot’s trophy.
For all of us it was a proud moment when the CAS pinned the hard earned pilot’s brevet on our chests and an equally proud moment for the Flt Cdts who were commissioned as Pilot Officers into the Indian Air Force. As the ex-Flt Cdts, now Plt Offrs, slow marched past the saluting dais to ‘Auld Lang Syne’, 16 T-6G Texans flew overhead in a '79‘ formation.
The bifurcation resulted in 16 Plt Offrs of the course going onto to the applied stage at the Jet Training Wing, Hakimpet, and 13 to the Transport Training Wing, Begumpet. The two Army officers left after the basic stage having completed their training. Three AF and four Naval officers continued with the course at Hakimpet but one of the Naval officers dropped out at Hakimpet.
Of the Air Force officers, three became Air Marshals, Shashi Ramdas, Vinod Patney and MS Vasudeva. The rest either superannuated or sought fame and fortune as civilians on early, voluntary release from the Air Force.
The three naval officers flew the Seahawk off INS Vikrant. The two Army officers flew with the Air OP.
The Golden Jubilee of the course is being celebrated on 31 May 2011.
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