Results for TAC-C#1 & TAC-C#2: Mumbai, Hyderabad corner glory!

TAC-C#1: Out of the total 56 contestants, the best caption was from Amit B. Kollegal from Mumbai, who wrote -- "Bending Before Bold Beauties!"

Interestingly, the blogger received a mail from Andreas Zeitler, the photographer who is seen in the photo and this is what he had to say. "I was really amused when I saw myself being the main subject of your photo contest. I am really looking forward to the winning comment you receive about this photo. Furthermore I really appreciate your comment (In the photo above, the photographer is taking all the pains to get that one frame he would want to capture. He is at work and not having fun) because coming from the cold it was indeed no fun lying on the very hot tarmac. Once the competition is finished feel free to post the link to my homepage so that everyone can see what the outcome of this pose was." You may visit Andreas at: http://www.flying-wings.com/2011/aero-india-2011.html

Congratulations Amit and your copy of A Different Spirit is already on its way.

TAC-C#2: Out of the total 116 contestants, the best caption came from Dr Mrinal from Hyderabad. He wrote -- "Bapu says: Beta, Ah...!Himsa." 

Congratulations Mrinal. Email your address to courier A Different Spirit

Update #15: With only lip services from mantri & MoD babus, Jetly's widow might approach PM for help now

In one of the most shocking and embarrassing stories of our times -- Shalini Jetly -- the widow of Indian Air Force's star stunt pilot late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly might approach the Indian Prime Minister for help. This after her appeals to various channels, including India's Defense Minister A.K. Antony, evoking no concrete responses.
On Feb 28 (today) Jetly's family members returned from Hindon after receiving the family pension. Now, hopefully, it would come very month. His insurance and PF is already in, but gratuity, leave encashment and disability pension are yet to come. The IAF is yet to make up its mind regarding Shalini's plea for a job at TAFS Subrato Park, New Delhi. Though at the mandatory press meet during Aero India 2011, the IAF chief P.V. Naik replied to the blogger's query in detail (this was the longest answer he gave), nothing seems to have moved even now.

Now, the family members confirm that they are taking their plea to Prime Minister. "We are tired. We are exhausted. Everyone is saying that we are being cheated. Our next hope is Prime Minister. We are sure he will understand our pain," a close relative of Shalini, helping the family during the hour of crisis, tells the blogger.

The IAF is said to have given an oral assurance to Shalini that they would offer her an ad-hoc appointment at TAFS, but the family members say that that doesn't serve the purpose. "We have been living on the edge for the last 4 years and don't want to continue like that the rest of our lives. We only keep getting calls from IAF LO and nothing concrete in writing. We have a sense of feeling that we are being taken for a ride," he said.

In a related development, the PA to a Member of Parliament has written to the blogger asking for the details of Jetly and his family and hope the fight for Justice for Jetly will take a decisive turn now.

During the just-concluded Aero India, many MoD Babus and some 'friends' in IAF tried their best to persuade the blogger to give up the Justice for Jetly campaign. Even some of Jetly's very close friends did some polite talking justifying IAF's position and what could have gone behind the delay in getting the family their dues. While it was a very poor PR effort to convince the blogger, what's more shocking is the pace at which things move in MoD.

Union Budget 2011: $36 billion allotted for defense

India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Feb 28 raised allocations for MoD by 11  per cent for the year 2011-12 to Rs 1,64,415 crore (approx $36 billion). The capex has been increased to Rs 69,199 crore. He promised additional funds would be made available to MoD, if need be. Antony & Co couldn't have asked for more as the much-needed modernization plans of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force armed forces are at various levels of implementation.

The Iron Bird Team: A Tejas story never told before!

 Photos: Planefinder

 By a guest writer

Iron Bird as the name suggests is a testing facility wherein the entire aircraft is functionally replicated to meet the testing requirements. The iron girders support the entire Hydraulics System, the Flight Control System (FCS), the Undercarriage System, the Utility Systems Management System (USMS), wherein the positioning and routing of the LRUs and the tubing/lines etc. are almost exact to the aircraft. This bird cannot fly but it facilitates the aircraft to fly safe and sound.

The iron bird test rig is designed to enable the ground testing of the LCA-FCS in open and closed loop modes and also with the pilot in the loop. The test facility contains the Iron Bird Rig and all the subsystems like Cockpit, Avionics Suite, the Outside Window Imagery, all the IFCS LRUs etc., which interface with the heart of the Tejas Flight Control System, the Digital Flight Control computer (DFCC). In addition, it contains the six degrees of simulation platform on Flight Dynamics Simulator which runs the aircraft model in real time and provides sensor inputs to DFCC as well as information for the cockpit display system. Hence it is the Onboard Flight Program (OFP) residing in the DFCC which is tested with all sorts of checks in place in the form of engineering assessment at first and then the pilot evaluation. The facility provides with the actual scenario the DFCC hardware and the software shall experience in the aircraft that makes it a ‘close to the aircraft’ test set up. Even the aircraft hardware/software IFCS snags are replicated/ recreated to debug and troubleshoot them efficiently and effectively. It is quite noteworthy that more than 7 dozens different versions of DFCC OFP software has been test and evaluated by Iron Bird team, which gives an idea of the efforts involved in the development program of this calibre and a gradual march towards achieving the perfection as far as the software of a fly-by-wire aircraft is concerned. It is a well acknowledged fact that ‘extensive testing of flight control system on the iron bird rig has contributed to flawless flights of Tejas’. That is the statement made by the top brass to all the VIP and VVIPs who visit the facility quite frequently.

Since this is the last platform before the DFCC is delivered for fitment on to the aircraft, the responsibility and the accountability of the team is so immense that the team embraces an over- cautious approach and puts on all the efforts in totality. The balance between doing justice to the software and stick to the tight schedules make them put their efforts almost 12 hours a day, six days a week. Sometimes even the Sundays are also not spared.

At present there are two Iron Bird test facilities existing to cater for the needs of Tejas Mk1 fighter and Tejas Trainer/Naval Variant. The work on Iron Bird I facility was started way back in early years of the last decade of 20^th century. The rig refinements and the initial engineering software testing started in the mid of that decade and formal flight worthy software testing in the year 1997. The completely tested and evaluated software for the first prototype namely the OFP V4019 was delivered in the year 2000 which led to the first flight of Tejas TD1 in January 2001. The second test facility, the Iron Bird – II was established mainly for Tejas Trainer and Naval variant and was commissioned in 2007-08. The Tejas trainer software was tested on it which finally led to the successful first flight of Tejas trainer variant with DFCC OFP V8002 in November 2009. The DFCC with the OFP for Naval variant is expected to be delivered to aircraft by April 2011.

There were many stumbling blocks in this entire chronology of testing the DFCC OFP at Iron Bird test facility. It started with the sanctions, post Pokharan – II, which made the path tougher and darker and then it was Y2K havoc, which led to providing jobs to anybody who could operate a computer. These disturbances blew off many experts from within the Tejas program and especially those working on FCS and particularly at Iron Bird. The Iron Bird saw an Avalanche breakdown and was left with just a handful of inexperienced engineers. But that didn’t stop the ‘left out team’ to continue with it efforts as it was the zenith of the project. Dr. B Subba Reddy singlehandedly took the completion of Iron Bird testing as a challenge and with those handful HAL engineers and few scientists from ADA delivered the DFCC hardware and the software to the aircraft. The team used to put almost 16 hours a day to utilise the system as per the schedule, to analyse the mammoth data captures, to go through each and every plots and figures before clearing the tests and offering the results to the certifying agencies. There were many problem reports / snags generated in the process and finally the product came in the form of OFP V4019, declared almost bug free.

The team was so cautious in its approach that with a single failure at the end of the prescribed 50 hours of fault free testing at Iron Bird, the clock was reset to zero and the entire test was redone amounting to a total of almost 110 hours of fault free testing. This enormously boosted the pilot’s confidence and made them eager to take off the actual wings. Prior to this fault free tests the team of Tejas pilots have undergone rigorous closed loop failure testing covering all the possible IFCS, electrical and hydraulics failures and studying and responding to them. This exercise also made them aware of handling the situation for possible failures on aircraft as they were to fly for the first time an indigenous fighter plane with fly-by-wire technology. Such an exercise was possible only at Iron Bird and the team left no stone unturned to offer it in totality to the pilots.

And the first flight happened, the nation applauded it, but nobody hailed Iron Bird team. Dr. B Subba Reddy was transferred to other division for administrative reasons and the program suffered another setback as he was also the deputy director of National Control Law (CLAW) team of Tejas. Some temporary arrangements were done from HAL side to fill the void left by Dr. Reddy, but to no avail. However the core Iron Bird team with the support of ADA was strong enough to deliver the products (the software versions with updates) in time. The HAL saw the Iron Bird team as an unproductive group of people since they were not directly contributing to the production targets of HAL and the approach continues till today. ADA celebrated the milestones of Tejas project with its scientists and between these two approaches, the Iron Bird team was left out unacknowledged at every occasion. The question still remains unanswered: “Whose baby is this Iron Bird, anyway?”

With the project directors of Tejas raising their voices at various forums, the Iron Bird team was finally augmented with HAL manpower in the year 2007 and currently boasts of 18 engineers of various domains. The team is headed by one Mr Sanjay Sharma, who has been associated with Iron Bird testing from the early days. It was his initiative that Iron Bird team still remains capable and efficient despite various setbacks. He also guides a team of 7 highly skilled engineers deputed to National Control Law (CLAW) team of Tejas at NAL. A big section of HAL higher management still remains unaware of the facts, potential, pains and achievements of the team.

We may be happy with the participation of private industry in the field of aeronautics, but the crude fact is that whenever an aerospace company or a venture has been established, it has eaten away the cream of the industries like HAL, ADA, and ADE etc. There are many who have been offered plum positions and fat salaries for similar work in these private establishments. And believe it or not, some of the delay in the Tejas project can be attributed to this very fact also. People of the level of project director, AGM etc. had redefined their loyalties and jumped to a world of leisure and comfort. In spite of these alluring offerings to the core people associated with the Tejas program the program had continued without much deceleration and the ‘Tejas Loyals’ came out with flying colours. Most of these crazy people have even never seen their salary slips from past many years. Ask them their basic pay even today and they will start looking at the skies, not for a clue but to tell the world, Tejas is our actual pay that we have earned. The soldiers at the borders have the obsession of dying for the country, we, at Iron Bird live with that and are always ready to die with that furore.

(The writer is a senior official with India’s Tejas program. No editing is being done to this copy by the blogger. The views expressed through this piece are purely that of the contributor and need not be necessarily the same as the blogger.)

I took my granny's blessings before co-piloting Gripen; my mother was tensed, but I was cool: Shashank

 All photos are taken by Shobhita, Shashank's sister.

Hello everyone. I am Shashank, the boy from Bangalore who co-piloted the Gripen at Aero India 2011. Honestly, when I sit down to write this piece for Tarmak007, I know the task would be tougher than my first flight on Gripen. I haven’t attempted anything like this before.This Aero India was very special to me not only for my first flight, but I was very fortunate to shake hands with some of my heroes.  I thank  Ananth Sir for encouraging me to write about my Gripen experience on Tarmak007. I read the blog everyday – which is my daily dose of inspiration.

It all began, when I was taken to the air show in 1996. I was just 7 years old. I was moving around wonderstruck with my father Ramesh. Since then, I got really addicted to aircraft and their working. As I grew up I started reading a lot on aviation. Prior to Aero India 2011, I came to know about the contest to ‘Fly the Gripen’ conducted by SAAB.

Once I cleared all the hurdles and was declared the winner of this contest, I had to decide whether to appear for the GATE exam or co-pilot the Gripen. I thought and thought and realized that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity. So I GATE-crashed and chose the cockpit!

On Sunday, February 13 (the last day of Aero India 2011), it was already time for me to leave for the Yelahanka AF Station. I prayed to God to provide me strength. I prayed God to give me the energy to handle the G-force!

I took the blessings from my grandmother before leaving for the AF Station along with my parents and my sister. My granny said that I would do well and she is very proud of me. I could see my mother getting bit emotional. Honestly, I was not scared. I was not nervous. Remember I had never flown before, not even in a civil airplane. This was my first flight.

At the SAAB Stall, we were treated well by the Swedish delegates. I met Robin Nordlander -- the chief Test pilot who flew me in the Gripen. I also met Fredrik Muchler -- another Test pilot. I was briefed by Robin Nordlander about the flight. Later, I was kitted out in a G-suit and a life vest. Finding an appropriate oxygen mask took some time... I must really thank the person who kitted me out. (I forgot his name!). Hats-off to his patience. Everybody was very friendly with me and my family.

Finally, at 12.10 in the Noon, we started walking towards the JAS-39D bearing the number 829 that was parked next to a Tejas and a Sukhoi-30 MKI. After getting on to the rear seat, the pilot hopped on to the front seat and closed the canopy. It was a tense moment for my mother Meera. I could see my sister -- Shobhita  -- a journalism student -- cheering me up.

The pilot then asked for a taxi clearance to Runway 9 and then we were cleared for the same. While we were taxiing the pilot told me turn on OBOGS (On-Board Oxygen Generation System). I turned it on and pressed the "test" button to test the functioning of OBOGS which inflated the G-suit momentarily. Then I wore the oxygen mask. Robin also commanded me to change the ejection seat mode from "safe" to "arm". The pilot then held the jet short of Runway 9 requesting Yelahanka ATC for a take-off clearance. Once the clearance was given from the tower, Robin steered the aircraft to the runway applied brakes and stopped. I looked to my right and saw the crowd who were watching the air show. It was a very happy feeling for me as I belonged to that crowd during the previous air show and this time, I'm already in flying a fighter!

Robin gave a full afterburner thrust. I couldn't hear anything, but felt the vibration. During the take-off, I was pushed against the seat and I felt a bit dizzy because of the heavy acceleration. Soon everything was normal and the ATC gave us the clearance to climb up to 6,000-ft and later 15,000- ft.  Robin demonstrated some S-turns to me. He then gave me the stick controls while he was still controlling the throttle. I performed some 2.5-3 G turns. It was a very good feeling. At just 1.5-1.6 G, one would feel very heavy. At 2.5-3G one would be pushed against the seat and Robin told me that we pulled a maximum of 5G. "In Sweden, we usually fly above 5,000-ft -- or else the people below us would curse us for noise pollution,” Robin said.

Later, Robin took back the controls and asked me: “Can I show you something?" I told him to go ahead. He brought the engine to idle and extended the airbrakes which I was able to see from the overhead mirror. The airspeed dropped to 150kts and he sustained the aircraft at that speed. He then increased the engine throttle to afterburner and then accelerated the plane to 500kts. But I didn't feel dizzy his time! Robin then contacted with the pilots of SAAB 2000 and the SAAB 340 for a formation over Yelahanka AF Station.

The touchdown was very smooth and the landing run was there for a very less distance. We taxied to parking and Robin gave me a command to turn the OBOGS off and to change the ejection seat mode from "arm" to "safe".  We got down from the aircraft and we walked towards the SAAB pilots' room. I was awarded a certificate of associate membership of the Gripen team by Fredrik Muchler. It was a memorable event.

The Press meet followed and I was suddenly surrounded by everyone. I have only seen these scenes on TV and in movies. Questions, cameras, flashes…

Along with the Gripen flying experience, I would always cherish the kind of bonding I had developed with the SAAB team. I thank everyone who supported me.

Thanks Tarmak007 for this writing opportunity. Writing is more challenging than Flying!

DGCA nod for Dhruv simulator likely in 2 months

Video: TV-007. Photos: Planefinder

The Dhruv simulator (civil variant) has finally made its official entry to HATSOFF premises in Bangalore. This after arriving at Chennai 2-3-weeks ago. The blogger visited the facility on Feb 22 and chanced upon Winco T.K. Singha, IAF PRO, at the controls of the simulator. HATSOFF hopes to have the DGCA nod in place in the next 2 months. The Dhruv simulator is currently undergoing its full integration. The man doing the talking is HATSOFF CEO Winco (Retd.) C.D. Upadhyay.  (First-time visitors to Tarmak007 may do a search for HATSOFF to know more details on this unique facility.) 

Embraer unveils new EMB-145 AEW&C platform for India

DRDO and Embraer officials during the roll out of EMB-145 in Brazil on Feb 21. The event happened just around 10.00 pm IST. Photo: Special Arrangement

Embraer presented the first of three EMB-145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms on Feb 21 to representatives of the Indian government at a ceremony held at its headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Based on the proven Embraer ERJ 145 regional jet, the aircraft features an in-flight refueling system, SATCOM capability, a significant increase in electrical and cooling capacities, and a comprehensive set of aerodynamic and structural changes. These improvements will allow the installation of the advanced electronic systems currently being developed by DRDO under CABS’ coordination.

When IAF gave wings to her dreams...

Photos: IAF

By Wg Cdr T.K. Singha, IAF PRO

Growing up watching Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer jets fly over her native town of Bidar in Karnataka, Jyothi Yerolkar always wanted to join the Air Force as a pilot. She also dreamt of living a life full of adventure.

Jyothi went on to become a doctor instead, got married and had two children. After completing Masters in Medicine, specialising in Gynaecology from U.S.A in 1999, and a hiatus of seven years from the profession bringing up her children, Jyothi returned to India in 2006. Not many believed she ever stood a chance to realize her dreams under the changed circumstances.

Upon her return, the unthinkable was about to happen. Jyothi’s dreams were soon to turn into reality, courtesy, the Indian Air Force.

Without giving even a second thought about administering their 200-bed, family-run, super-specialty hospital in Bidar, Dr. Jyothi wasted no time in applying for the IAF who were seeking doctors to join the service, even if it was, on a short service commitment.

Dr. Jyothi joined the IAF as a doctor in 2007 in the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Within a year she was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader on the basis of her M.D. qualification and has served well in Air Force Hospitals at Yelahanka, Kanpur and Air Force Academy, Dundigal.

Having realized one part of her dream of joining IAF, Sqn Ldr Jyothi Yerolkar is now on the verge of creating history by realizing the next, being the first lady officer from the armed forces ever to take on the grueling ‘Desert Storm-2011 Car Rally’ that begins from Ahmedabad on Tuesday, February 22. The IAF is fielding three teams comprising six drivers as the ‘Sky Hawks’ team

“There was no special favour done to you,” Air Officer-in-charge Administration, Air Marshal JN Burma told Sqn Ldr Jyothi commending her endeavours while flagging-off the team from Delhi on Friday. Sqn Ldr Jyothi qualified with top honours in the tough selection process where driving, navigation skills and knowledge of the vehicle were tested out.

“I used to drive out in my Dad’s car while still in sixth standard, and by eight I was an expert on bikes,” says Jyothi, a former national-level player who represented Karnataka in swimming, hockey and handball, recalling her early tryst with driving in Sudan, where her engineer-father served. Jyothi practiced hard and fast in her personal Tata Safari before coming that helped her qualify as the first woman armed forces driver in the rally.

Sqn Ldr Jyothi pairs up with Wg Cdr S Swami, a Jaguar pilot in the lead Sky Hawks team. The other two IAF teams have Wg Cdr Ajay Pratap, a Navigator pairing up with Flt Lt Rahul Sahni, an Accounts Officer, while Sqn Ldr Rajender Chaudhary, a Fighter Controller pairs up with Junior warrant Officer AK Singh, a specialist IAF rally driver to form the triad of IAF’s ‘Sky Hawks’ team. Ten others will rally behind as support team making it a truly formidable team.

The rally will run through Bhuj, Naliya, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jaipur and end at Delhi on February 27. The 2,400 Kms rally will see 156 teams in various categories, drive through flat country sides of the Rann of Kutch, through thick clumps of ‘Keekar’ whose thorns can prove deadly for the inflated rubber wheels and provide speed breaks and navigation difficulties.

“Drivers have to watch out for sand dunes, muddy roads, puddles, lake beds containing water or slush, unexploded shells from firing practice done by border forces and brave through dust and grime and over the horizon sun impeding visibility,” says Gp Capt MK Abhrol, an experienced IAF car rally expert who took to this adventure sports beginning with ‘Himalayan Rally’ way back in 1984.

The IAF offers opportunity to all who seek adventure and glory, a confident Sqn Ldr Jyothi said while zooming-off in her rally-modified gypsy hoping many others would also find their ambitions fulfilled in the Air Force. 

Food for the Fauj: FDAJB visits DFRL Mysore

Video: TV-007 (aXess.ver1)

The members from the Forum of Defense and Aerospace Journalists, Bangalore (FDAJB) visited Mysore-based Defense Food and Research Laboratory (DFRL) -- a unit of DRDO -- on Feb 18 to get an update on various ongoing projects. The video shows glimpses of the lab's activities. The lab  provides survival kits not only to the Indian Army, but also to CRPF, para-troopers, MARCOS and submariners. A new unit of DFRL is also on the anvil.

(Detailed report[s] and more video[s] on the blog, after they appear in Aviation Week.)

Tarmak007 Videos: India's EMB-145 AEW&C aircraft ready for roll-out in Brazil

A TV-007 aXess video

India’s Embraer-built Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) aircraft (EMB-145) is scheduled for roll-out on Feb. 21 in Brazil. Top DRDO officials are already in Brazil for the event. The first flight of the modified EMB-145 is expected around May and by August 2011 the platform will land in India (CABS Bangalore) for system integration. During Aero India 2011 press meet, DRDO Chief Dr V.K. Saraswat had confirmed that a new system (with 360 degrees operational capabilities) will also come soon. The above TV-007 video is just a sneak preview into scheme of things to come.

Aviation Week report here

Digital camouflage paint scheme for LCH TD-2 major breakthrough for an IAF asset: HAL

A report on LCH TD-2's new paint scheme in Aviation Week's Aero India Show Daily. Click the link below for another (similar) report in Aviation Week's Microsite that went live on Feb 16, 2011.

Indian LCH Prototype Gets Camouflage Paint Job

Photo: A.R. Jose, Aviation Week
Also watch Tarmak007 Videos (TV-007) on LCH
Encounter with a black beauty
Hari the Hunter

(If the video link(s) doesn't work, search the blog using the same tags)

TV-007: The Rhythm of Tejas, a song for the Nation!

A TV-007 Presentation

(All you Tejas fans out there, blast your speakers and listen to the rhythm of  Tejas. In the video, the flight is piloted by Air Cmdr Rohit Verma, Program Director, NFTC.)

TV-007: A for Ankur -- A short interview with LCA Navy pilot

Video TV-007

(This video was taken just before Aero India 2011)

A dream come true! Army Aviation's Pushpak now on a historic India tour

Photos: Tarmak007

"The Pushpak which played a key role in the 1971 war was lying idle at the Patiala Flying Club when the idea struck. I wanted to revive the machine, if possible. If I am right, it had fought 2 wars and flew as part of the 660 Army Aviation Squadron, then called as the Air Op Sqdn. I am glad that my dream came true and we will fly this new-look, refurbished Pushpak all across India to mark the Silver Jubilee  of Army Aviation," Brig A.S. Sidhu tell Tarmak007, during an informal chat at Aero India. The Pushpak was flagged off from the Yelahanka Air Force Station on Feb 13. 

"We are planning to visit even some of the oldest aviation bases in India, including the one famous during the Battle of Longewala. From Bangalore we fly to Nasik, Jaisalmer, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Jammu, Lucknow via Baghdhora to Tezpur, Vizag, Bangalore and conclude at the Combat Army Aviation Training School at Nasik," says Brig. Sidhu, who is the Commander, Army Aviation Base at Leh.

During the historic flight, a total of 11,000 km will be covered in a span of 3-3.5 weeks. According to Brig. Sidhu the Pushpak(s) last flew in 1981, but he got the idea to revive the aircraft only in 2007.

“I got in touch with the Civil Aviation Secretary and other officials and got very good encouragement. HAL deputed a team in 2010 and they did an excellent job in a month and completed the fabric work. In October 2010 we finished the painting work. The assembly was done by the engineers and technicians from the Punjab government. We had the ground run on October 26, first taxi trials on October 28 and first flight on October 30. The multi-horse power piston engine (C-90) was fine-tuned. At the end of it all everything was restored to its original glory. Now, it can fly at a max speed of 100/kph and more,” says Brig. Sidhu.

Says Col. Dipender Singh, CO, AA, 205: “It’s a dream come true and we are all proud of this machine and what Brig. Sidhu has achieved. We couldn’t have got for a better souvenir – a priceless one -- than this flight to mark the Silver Jubilee of Army Aviation,” says Col. Singh.

So much that even the blogger played a small role to help Brig. Sidhu’s dream come true, which he acknowledges every time. That bit of news is irrelevant here, considering what Brig. Sidhu and Army Aviation have achieved.

Happy Landings Brig. Sidhu & Co!

Also read: An inspiring journey

TV-007 tracks LCH: Hari & the Hunter

Video: TV-007 

(During the shoot, the blogger and the fellow photographer from Aviation Week A.R. Jose almost got blown away from the helipad when the LCH took-off. Jose tells the blogger later that God is Great, if not he would have got blown away and left hanging from a nearby hoarding crying for help. Below a photo of Team LCH.)

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TV-007: Presenting the Tejas backroom boys

Video: TV-007

TV-007 Tejas takes: Walk-the-talk with Winco (retd) Ravi

Video: TV-007

(This video was shot a day before Aero India-2011. Winco (retd) Ravindran is a senior pro and group director, Flight Test, Tejas.)

TV-007 more trials: Tracking the Tejas

Video: TV-007

TV-007 low-speed taxi trials: Simply Suneet -- an upclose with Tejas' top Test pilot

Video: TV-007

 (An upclose with Gp Capt Suneet Krishna, an experienced Test pilot with India's Tejas program. An swimmer and a simpleton, Suneet has been with the program for the last 10 years. Simply Suneet is TV-007's attempt to get you some real back-room action from a top IAF pilot. This video was shot before Aero India 2011, hoping to be hosted before/during the show. Sadly, owing to tech issues, the blogger could only find a way out after the show. This is a trial run of TV-007 and real action videos will go live soon.)  

Tarmak007 Videos (TV-007) ground run: Close encounter with a black beauty!

(Tarmak007 Videos -- TV-007)

TV-007: Trial run with Tejas pilots' chief at NFTC

TV-007 with NFTC chief Rohit Verma. This video was shot just two days before Aero India 2011.

Launching Tarmak007 Videos (TV-007): Here's my roll out with Team LCH

This video is shot by Tarmak007. This is a trial version.
(Starting today, I am trying my hand at shooting short videos. To be christened TV-007, the initial few videos will be posted on a test basis until I master the art of editing. There are some tech issues to be sorted out with conversions of the HD videos to a friendly format for the blog. Hopefully, I will thrash out the issue soon. Can someone suggest the best way to covert a HD video to  a format that suits the blog?)

Aero India 2011: Short video on Rafale flying display

Video: Planefinder/Tarmak007

Aero India 2011: Short video on Gripen flying display

Video: Planefinder/Tarmak007

A stunning video on F-22 Raptor debut from the web

Video by Leo Mann

Aero India 2011: Short video on F-18 flying display

Video: Planefinder/Tarmak007

HATSOFF website goes live

 Director General Civil Aviation Bharat Bhushan launches the website of HATSOFF in Bangalore during the just-concluded Aero India 2011. Photo: Planefinder