CAS Dhanoa reviews Graduation Parade of 113 Flight Cadets

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The blue skies over Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Telangana, turned vibrant with a colourful march-past by the passing out Cadets on the ground and amazing aerobatics in the air by various aircraft of Indian Air Force on June 16, 2018, which marked the occasion of the graduation of 113 Flight Cadets as Flying Officers of the Indian Air Force which included 13 women officers.

The ceremony also marked commissioning of another woman fighter pilot, Flying Officer Meghana Shanbough, in the IAF. Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest and reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade.  The Chief Guest was received by Air Marshal SRK Nair, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, and Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, Commandant  Air Force Academy, according to a PIB release.

A total number of 113 Flight Cadets including 13 women cadets were commissioned as Flying Officers at their alma-mater, the Air Force Academy, the ‘Cradle of IAF Leadership’ that has moulded generations of prodigious aviation leaders.  It was also indeed a proud moment for 80 young pilots, 06 navigators and 27 ground duty officers who earned their coveted ‘Wings and Brevets’, along with 6 officers of Indian Navy and 5 officers of Indian Coast Guard on successful completion of their flying training.

The CAS gave away various awards to the Flying Officers who had excelled in their training.  Flying Officer Tarun Nair from the Flying branch was awarded President’s Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff ‘Sword of Honour’ for standing first in Overall Merit in Pilot Course. Flying Officer Abhishek Bajpai and Flying Officer Banti were awarded President’s Plaque for being first in overall merit in Navigation and Ground Duty branches respectively.

The grand event was witnessed by esteemed guests who included proud parents of the graduating trainees, various military and civilian dignitaries and few foreign foreign Defence Attaches. The ceremony began with the sky diving by the ‘Akash Ganga’ Team enthralling the spectators by dotting the skies of Dundigal with tri- colours and precise landing right in front of them in the parade square.

The spectators were held spellbound by the spectacular movements of the Air Warriors Drill Team, the ‘Nishan Toli’ marching-past with the ‘President’s Colours’ of the Academy and impressive Parade by the graduating trainees. The spectators were awestruck by the breath-taking aerobatics of highly experienced and skilled pilots of Suryakiran Aerobatic team, ‘Sarang’ the Helicopter Aerobatics Team, and PC 7 MK-II of the IAF.

Later, addressing the Parade, the Chief of Air Staff complimented the newly Commissioned ‘Flying Officers’ for an exceptional standard of parade.  Keeping in view the changing geo-political and strategic environment and varied security challenges faced by India, he urged the young officers to remain in heightened state of preparedness by dynamically adapting to the continuously changing environment.