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TIMES OF INDIA

IAF old boys get together on Gnat anniversary
22 Nov 2008, 0044 hrs IST, TNN

BANGALORE: It was a nostalgic moment for the veterans of Indian Air Force, who participated in the golden jubilee celebration of the first flight of Gnat in India at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited convention centre on Friday.

Vice Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal P V Naik, HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja, Rt Air Marshal C S Naik, Rt Air Marshal M S D Wollen and Director Personnel Sanjeev Sahi inaugurated the event jointly organized by HAL and IAF.

On the proud occasion, more than 350 veterans including engineers and pilots associated with Gnat were present. It was a fine moment for the tiny aircraft that took on the F-86 Sabre Jets of the Pakistan Air Force both in 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak war, making a significant impact in the country's history.

“After the Gnat brotherhood met at Pune two years ago, it was Rt Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi who wrote to me about celebrating the golden jubilee of the first fight of the Gnat in India,” recalled Baweja.

The event was followed by a release of a film on Gnat made by renowned aviation film maker Kunal Verma and a book on old fighter jets edited by Pushpinder Singh by Air Marshal Naik and Baweja.

Sharing some of the reminiscences, Rt Air Marshal Naik said, “Gnat was the only combat aircraft purchased while it was still under development to involve India in aircraft development process.”

Almost 26 years after his retirement, Naik, on the occasion, remembered pilot Sudhakaran, who sacrificed his life to save the instrumented aircraft. Naik said: “Perhaps we should have earmarked this aircraft only for air-to-air interceptor.”

Rt Air Marshal P K Dey who joined Indian Air Force when he was less than 19 years old was the youngest pilot in IAF. The bonding associated with Gnat had brought the veterans under one roof after 50 years. Some of them had come from as far as Shillong and Malaysia for the occasion.

”The tiny aircraft was the best fighter and this fact was admitted by superiors in Pakistan Air Force too,” said Rt Air Marshal D Keelor.

The memories of the joy of winning the Indo-Pak war, posing for photographs, signing autographs and lavish parties, jazz music and drinks enjoyed in post-war celebration was also shared by the participants.

”Eleven out of the 16 from the 22 Squadron are having a get-together at the P K Tayal residence on Saturday,” announced wing commando S Soares.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Air Marshal M S D Wollen, Raj Kumar, D Lazares, Wing Commando S Soares, Jayamohan and Rt Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi.

On the occasion a photo exhibition of the fighter was held.

According to Sanjeev Sahi, a veterans' committee was formed to inform and facilitate the get-together. Using website, internet groups and through advertisement, participants were contacted.