41 women among 193 flight cadets commissioned into IAF

Hyderabad: Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha today reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade of 193 flight cadets belonging to Pilot, Navigation and Ground Duty streams at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, near here.

The parade marked the culmination of their one year rigorous training in different branches of Indian Air Force at Air Force Academy, Dundigal; Air Force Administrative College (Coimbatore); Air Force Station Hakimpet; Air Force Station Yellahanka and Air Force Station Begumpet, Hyderabad, a Defence release said. In his address, the Chief of Air Staff emphasised the importance of the core values of the IAF mission, integrity and excellence and advised the cadets to be an inspiration to the young generation through selfless service and devotion to duty. Congratulating the passing outs, the Air Chief said, "It is a matter of great honour to review the Combined Graduation Parade and welcome these fine men and women into the Indian Air Force as military leaders and aviators." The Air Force Academy (AFA), as a cradle of Military Aviation, provides a unique environment for joint training of cadets of all branches and forge life-long bonds of camaraderie, cohesiveness and espirit-de-corps, the release said. With a distinguished training record to its credit, AFA is at the vanguard of a comprehensive upgrade in IAF`s training pattern and infrastructure. This academy has successfully inducted and operationalised the PC-7 Mk II as IAF`s Basic Trainer Aircraft and has ushered in an era of modern flying training with high standards of safety and reliability, the release said. The President`s Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in overall order of merit in Pilot`s Course was awarded to Flying Officer Anil Kumar. Flying Officer Durgesh Kumar and Flying Officer Satheesh Kumar were awarded the President`s Plaque for standing first in overall order of merit in Ground Duties Branches and Navigation Branch respectively. The combined graduation parade witnessed a "thrilling and breathtaking" display of supersonic SU30MKI jet aircraft and flypast of six Hawk aircraft, three Kiran aircraft and performance by Sarang team, it stated.