A flying spectacle like no other!

Cmde Mukund Kunte (retd)

It was on January 29, 1985, that Admiral Arun Prakash, former Naval Chief, made history, one may say. For the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk, he took off from the  Safdarjang airfield and led a flight of a fantastic brand of jump-jet naval aircraft — the Sea Harrier. I wonder how many remember that day, when in the majestic backdrop of the domes of the South and North Blocks, four of these magnificent machines made a hover, hanging in midair like a helicopter. Then, with a dipping salute to their Supreme Commander, President Zail Singh, from zero speed they flew off at supersonic speed towards India Gate. Truly a sight for the Gods!

How did it become possible? It was the first and only time that in the country’s Capital, the Navy’s fighter aircraft flew alongside IAF’s Hunters, known for their heart-stopping aerobatics with the bomb-burst as the finale. 

A dream turned into reality because the Navy was headed by an aviator, and a test pilot at that — Admiral Ram Tahiliani. Moreover, the CEO on Raisina Hill was another distinguished flier, Rajiv Gandhi. Thus, it was plain-sailing. Lest we forget, at the flight controls of the Air Force then was Air Chief Marshal ‘Baba’ Katre, a realist if ever there was one. Such then is the mettle of our armed forces that can perform unitedly and singularly to perfection.    

The Indian Naval Aviation came of age quickly because our political masters after Independence saw merit in building a credible military force. Our tri-service profile was truly complete in the 1960s after acquiring Soviet submarines. We achieved a three-dimensional Navy and played a crucial role in the ‘triad’ in support of our nuclear doctrine.

Former French President Hollande and PM Modi were not the only ones talking on matters of defence purchases and sales. Margaret Thatcher had famously said in Kuwait that she batted for England in the matter of selling Sea King helicopters in the Middle East. Sonia, the wife of Capt Graham Meredith, Naval Adviser in the British High Commission, was also doing the same in Delhi — batting for her country to advertise Sea Harriers! A golf enthusiast, she once gave small packets to some of us close friends: neatly wrapped golf balls with the signature ‘Sea Harriers’. 

Our natural instinct was to say that we must be careful not to lose them, when she immediately chided us, ‘Oh no, you must do so quickly. How else will other members know about the Navy’s new acquisition!’ It did not take me long, with my modest handicap, to unsuccessfully search for Harriers in our luxurious roughs.

To complete the picture of Arun Prakash, here is an aside how history would have been different had he, as a young pilot, while converting to a variable geometry aircraft in the UK, not survived sea-ditching. For a few minutes he was ‘in the drink’, in the waters off the west coast. He was rescued because destiny had ruled that he live for another day!