Adding charm & colour when Sarangs soar | I am inspired by gutsy IAF pilots: Bhavana

Wg Cdr Bhavana Mehra, Sarang Helicopter Display Team. Photo: IAF

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Wg Cdr Bhavana’s Mehra’s always spots a smile which might be worth a billion dollar. She is the only woman commentator with the Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Earlier, she was with the Surayakirans and also was the deputy leader of first mixed expedition to the Mount Everest in 2011. Her interests and achievements might run into pages and today she acts as a bridge between the Sarang team and the crowd who watches their thrilling display.

“My commentaries are mixed with little humour and some unknown facts about the pilots. Our main job is to inspire youngsters so that they become air warriors,” says Bhavana. Today, she does multi-tasking duties taking care of Sarang’s publicity, team administration and the commentary. Interestingly, Bhavana holds the Limca Book of Record for being the only India non-pilot to be have flown 144 hours during her stint with the Suryakirans.

“Writing poetry is my favourite pastime. I have done sky-diving and I am a classical Kathak dancer too. I have also learnt English ballroom dance. But, what really fascinates me are the mountains,” says Bhavana, when asked about her interests. “The mountains keep calling me. I am also inspired by the gutsy IAF pilots,” she adds.

Hailing from Amritsar, Bhavana says she was always attracted towards fighter planes when she was a kid. “I have been so impressed with the local flying activities of the fighters, while I was living at Naya Nangal, a small town in Ropar of Punjab. I always wanted to be a fighter pilot, but ended up as a administration officer in the IAF. But, no regrets I am a proud air warrior,” Bhavana said.

She says Bangalore is an enchanting in many ways. “The pubs, the bowling allies and many more make the whole place so vibrant,” she said. With over 17 years in the IAF, Bhavana feels a commentator’s job becomes complete when she is able to connect with the masses. “I am just adding my bit to make the show colourful. My pilots are the heroes and I salute them,” she adds.

Copyright@City Express, The New Indian Express

GET REGULAR UPDATES FROM

 TARMAK007'S FB PAGE. CLICK

THE ICON AND LIKE THE PAGE

IAF's Sarangs ready for sky ballet | Look out for the new 'India formation' at Aero India

All photos: IAF

The IAF’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team is one of the only

two operational chopper display units in the world. This time at

air show, they are unveiling the ‘India’ formation to touch your

hearts, says Anantha Krishnan M. A City Express special.

The peacocks are here. And, they are ready to perform the sky ballet. At the Yelahanka Air Force station they have begun the rigorous practice sessions twice a day. Then the debriefing, corrections, suggestions and finally by night fall, like the birds flocking together, they sit around the dining table for more plane talk.

Meet the Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF), who share a very emotional bonding with Bangalore. It was from here they evolved as one of the finest aerobatic copper display units in the world. After their field evaluation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-built the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, the team was tasked with the role of formation display flying to showcase the capability of Dhruv, way back in 2002. Since their official formation in 2004, the Sarangs have won the hearts of millions around the world. Their routine: Fly to thrill and even kissing danger at times.

Today they are an integral part of IAF’s 151 HU based out of Sulur Air Force Station in Coimbatore. So far, the team has performed over 35 air shows in India and abroad. In attendance at Aero India since 2003, the Sarang team is now led by Wg Cdr R C Pathak, who plays the role of the Commanding Officer. He is assisted by Wg Cdr Vinod Negi, the deputy team leader. The other members are: Wg Cdr Shailendra Pandey, Sqn Ldr Mudit Chaurasia, Sqn Ldr S Saravanavel, Sqn Ldr P R Ponnappa, Sqn Ldr Anil Yadav, Sqn Ldr S Jamkar, Sqn Ldr Abhijeet Kumar, Sqn Ldr Gurpreet Singh, Sqn Ldr Bhushan Rao, Flt Lt S K Singh.

Flt Lt Niket Tiwari, the latest entrant, keeps a watchful eye on the team every time it performs as its safety officer. Sqn Ldr P S Karthik is the senior engineering officer of the team. He along with Flt Lt Priyanshu Mukherji, Flt Lt Bharat Bajaj, Flt Lt Vijay Karthik, Flt Lt Gurjeet Singh and the other professional and qualified air warriors of the team keep the machines flying fit for such arduous profiles. Wg Cdr Bhavana Mehra is the team administrator and does the commentary for the displays.

“The team has the unique distinction of being one of the only two operational helicopter display team in the world, the other being ‘Blue Eagles’ of the British Army,” says one of the team member. “The ‘India’ formation was part of our profile for during Berlin Air Show in 2008. We couldn’t do it during Aero India last time, because we were doing the reverse flight profile instead of formation flying as a warm up to aerobatics,” says one of team members.

Flt Lt S K Singh is the youngest in the group. This 28-year-old braveheart from Bihar, now occupies the display pilot seat (co-piloting). Wg Cdr R C Pathak, the team leader, is the senior pro in the group. Hailing from Nagpur, the 38-year-old daredevil, is a qualified flying instructor and rotary wing Test Pilot.

“Six pilots in the team are performing for the first time at Aero India. We are happy to fly the Dhruvs -- India's pride. The matured Dhruv is a small step for HAL, but a giant leap for India’s aviation sector,” says another Sarang pilot. The team says that the appreciations they got from Al Ain Grand Prix at UAE and the Berlin Air Show are cherished forever. “We were adjudged as the best-looking close formation team,” says a Sarang pilot.

Over to Yelahanka. The place you have to be now.

Copyright@City Express

WHAT’S IN STORE: The new profile, which the Sarang flies these days, begins with entry in ‘Inverted Wine Glass’ formation. The formation then changes over to Line Astern formation or ‘India’ as it is popularly called, and Diamond formation to facilitate the viewers to get a closer look at the Helicopters. Sarang 1, 2 and 3 then turn together to perform the star manoeuvre which is unique to helicopter flying – ‘The Stall Turn’ known as the ‘Dolphin’s Leap’.

The team then continually keeps the audience glued to the skies with their breathtaking manoeuvres. The next is the hear-stopping ‘Crossover Break’, followed by the ‘Arrow’. After another set of exciting manoeuvres the team then regroups for its final signature manoeuvre ‘the Sarang Split,’ in which the four helicopter cross each other vertically and horizontally to form a knot. (The inputs for WHAT'S IN STORE taken from Sarang's team brochure.)

GET REGULAR UPDATES FROM

 TARMAK007'S FB PAGE. CLICK

THE ICON AND LIKE THE PAGE

Sarangs join Army during silent joint exercise along Kerala coast

ALH photos for representation only. Photos: Tarmak007 Archives

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army conducted a ‘silent’ day-and-night joint exercise along the St Andrew’s beach in Puthanthope, near Kazhakuttom, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). According to Army sources, the joint exercise was part of the training for Special Ops. Though the IAF and the Army are officially tight-lipped about the operation held on August 8 (day and night), sources tell Tarmak007 that – it was probably for the first time -- Sarang Helicopter Display Team was called in for such an exercise. “The troops were called in from Hyderabad, while four Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) were summoned from 151 HU based out of Sulur. We haven’t seen the Sarangs during any such operations,” Army sources said. Troops attached to Gorkha Rifles and Madras Regiment is said to have taken part in this rigorous exercise – a fact that couldn’t be independently confirmed by Tarmak007. “Heliborne and slithering operations were carried out by various teams,” sources said.

Simply Sarang: Daring Dhruvs on a Duet!

Robert Maria Clement

Some rare and hi-res photographs of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv of India Air Force's Sarang Helicopter Display Team. These stunning, low-flying photographs were taken by Bangalore-based photo-journalist Robert Maria Clement. Robert, an extremely-gifted shutterbug, worked with the blogger in The Times of India and later in HAL. He now works with Deccan Chronicle. There's no specific reason for uploading these images now, just that I chanced upon them while hunting for some archive images. If anyone want to have these hi-res photos without the watermarks, please email me.

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.

Update # 13: Only lip service; Jetly's family yet to get justice!

Close to three weeks after the demise of Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly, there seems to be noting substantiate happening from the side of IAF and India government. While, the IAF officials  have not yet made an official statement in this regard, India's defense minister A.K. Antony had at least the courtesy to reply to a letter written to him by Jetly's wife Shalini.

Here's what an IAF official wrote to Tarmak007, when asked why there's still a delay in getting justice to Jetly family. "I am told her case is under progress. While on it, there are a few things that need to be understood. She was offered a job as warden in Air Force Bal Bharti School where she could avail of accommodation and also have her children transferred for convenience, among other things. She turned it down and insists for a teaching job in The Air Force School only. She is a Home Science graduate, over 40 years and with no experience in teaching at school. She has only college teaching experience but as per the guidelines of the government her qualifications/age do not conform to the requirements for a fresh appointment of a new teacher. The AF is also considering seeking a special waiver for her from the Govt. Yet there is one problem. There is a vacancy for only one Home Science teacher and there is already someone serving for years. The teacher serving cannot be removed to accommodate Mrs Jetly. The administration is trying to figure out a workable way. While all sympathies exist for the family, some things do not find easy solution every which way the family wants. And rightly, as the minister wrote, things are being actually looked into," the official said.

Family members now confirm to Tamak007 that the Shalini Jetly is now planning to meet the wife of India's Air Chief through the Air Force Wives' Welfare Association.

It is indeed really sad that the widow of IAF's promising and ace stunt pilot is put to so much of difficulties by the administration. While it is great to see India's defense minister Antony has written to the family, what really needs to be seen is whether a solution would emerge without delay.

If not, it will be a major embarrassment to IAF, Ministry of Defense and other officials during the upcoming Aero India.

Justice for Jetly. Just that!

(A report in today's Deccan Herald)

Update # 12: Antony responds to late Wg Cdr Jetly's wife's letter

Jetly's family received this letter from Antony today.

Update # 11: Jetly's pension papers finally move, but...

Any nation that does not honor its heroes
will not long endure. -- Abraham Lincoln

Late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly's pension papers have finally moved. This after over one year of his retirement from the Indian Air Force (IAF). Family sources tell Tarmak007 that the Pension Pay Order (PPO) number has been released to the bank, signalling that the much-awaited pension will sooner or later start coming. It will take some more time before the family starts receiving the pension.

There's yet no official word from Defense Minister A.K. Antony following Shalini Jetly's letter addressed to him dated 17.01.2011. Aides close to Antony, however, confirmed the receipt of the letter, which according to them, is marked to Secretary Defense with a note "For Immediate Action." Now, the file will go through the proper-channel -- which means another set of delays!

The family members have concluded the 11th and 13th day ceremonies, post Jetly's demise, and are now putting the pieces together for a stable future. The load on Shalini has increased. She has to do a balancing act and take care of the needs of her aged parents -- father (80) and mother (77), in-laws -- father (75) and mother (65) and her children  (12 & 8). She also has to run around to get the dues from the IAF and continue with a life hoping against hope that the IAF would give her a teaching job.

It is now confirmed that Shalini is unlikely to take-up the teaching job offer from Indus International School in Bangalore. "She is ever grateful to the school management who came forward to help her after seeing the media reports. We are touched by the gesture of the Bangalore-based school, who did exactly what the IAF failed to do all these years despite our pleas. We are all settled in Delhi and it won't be possible for us to move to Bangalore to take up this job. Please convey our heartfelt gratitude to the school," says a Jetly family member.

Tarmak007 will keep-up the campaign going until the family gets a fair and deserving response from the IAF and the government. The online signature campaign is still on and the blogger is grateful to the online community which has been spreading the Justice for Jetly campaign to more people. 

 

Update #10: Bangalore-based Indus International School offers Shalini Jetly job; no news yet from Antony & IAF!

The Indus International School, promoted by Mantri Developers, has come  forward offering a teaching job to Shalini Jetly, wife of late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly. There's no news yet from Defense Minister A.K. Antony and the IAF!

(This post will be updated) 

 

Update # 9: Bangalore Media joins Justice for Jetly campaign; shocked ex-student writes to TAFS princy; online signature campaign to Antony gains momentum

The Justice for Jetly campaign has picked up momentum. Military sources tell Tarmak007 that India's Defense Minister A.K. Antony has received the letter from Shalini Jetly, wife of late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly (Jets). The family members are heading for  Haridwar tomorrow (January 21) for the 11th day ceremony and to immerse the ashes. The petitiononine signature campaign addressed to Antony has picked up on the second day (yesterday) with over 150 signing-up for cause. 

The Bangalore Media too has joined the Justice for Jetly campaign with the DNA and the Deccan Herald coming out with detailed articles today. This is the second time that both the papers have published reports on Jets. Rahul Singh (first to report) of Hindustan Times too is backing the campaign and has written two back-to-back stories so far.

The blogger received an email from Shivi Krishna, a former student of The Air Force School (TAFS), Subrato Park, New Delhi, where Shalini is seeking a teaching job. The 1995 batch student, said in his mail to the TAFS principal: "I felt a strange sense of disquiet on reading the plight of Mrs Jetly on Tarmak007. I write to you because being a product of this institution I could not fathom why Mrs Jetly was denied an opportunity to be employed on humanitarian grounds at this very institution where her children also study. I feel that whatever reasons the management had to reject her plea, it runs contrary to the values that this institution imbibed in me and all its students over the years. I therefore request you to kindly look at her case again and on humanitarian grounds see what best can be done to help her case."

We shall keep the campaign going and see what Antony and his Air Chief would do to help Jets' family. 

Hope justice prevails, finally!

Copyright DNA: A report by Hemanth C.S. in DNA (P 1), dated 20.01.2011, below.

Copyright DH: A report by Chethan Kumar in Deccan Herald (P 7), dated 20.1.11, below.

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure. -- Abraham Lincoln 

Update # 8: Here's what late Wg Cdr Jetly's wife wrote to Antony

 

Yet another piece by Rahul Singh in today's Hindustan Times
IAF's stunt pilot's widow turns to Antony for help.

Update # 7: Jetly’s wife, father knock at Antony’s doors pinning hopes

When God closes one door, he opens another. Well, this belief is currently put to test by late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly’s wife Shalini, his father O.P. Jetly (75) and other family members. Sources tell Tarmak007 that the family members have written to India’s Defense Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday, highlighting their plight.

The two-page letter, according to family members, has been faxed to Antony’s office in South Block, while another one is on its way via post. “He is our last hope. We are tired and worried of Shalini’s future,” says a family member.

Spare a thought for a 75-year-old man, who is left with no option but to run around to facsimile centres and post offices with the last hope that somebody will step forward to help the family. Jetly’s parents are heading to Haridwar for the 13^th day ceremony on January 21 and there’s going to be another one at home on January 23.

Meanwhile, Tuesday was action-packed for Tarmak007 with the Justice for Jetly campaign really picking up momentum. A Chennai-based legal firm has come forward to offer free services to Shalni, if she continues to be ignored by the government officials. “We are all ashamed. It’s sad that a great pilot’s wife and family members have to beg and plead for help,” says the firm official, in an email.

Another blog member prompted Tarmak007 to get online with a mass petition drive (signature campaign) in support of Jetly’s family. You could view the content of the petition, pledge support by signing and once we achieve enough numbers, the same will be delivered to Antony.  http://www.petitiononline.com/afjet007/petition.html

Hope Antony will put his foot down and save the IAF and his ministry from further embarrassment? Hope my colleagues in the Media will take up this campaign to next level and help a really deserving pilot’s family? Let MMRCA, Tejas, Arjun and Agni take a break! What are machines minus the men?

Thanks for all the support for the campaign. R.I.P. Wg Cdr Jetly.

Related stories on this blog:

Ace pilot never got his dues

Friends share priceless memories

Sarang Team pays tributes to 'Jet Sir'

Top pilot's wife pleads for a teaching job

# 6. Ace pilot never got his retirement benefits! IAF cared too little for late Wg Cdr Jetly's wife's pleas for the last 1 year

This is a shocker. A story, may be, that will evoke a second thought in all those aspiring to be a pilot with the Indian Air Force.

Just days after Tarmak007 launched the ‘Justice for Jetly’ campaign, the late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly’s (Jets) family members now confirm that his wife (Shalini) has been running from pillar to post, for claiming her husband’s post-retirement benefits for the last one year. Jets was invalidated (retired) from the rolls of IAF on the afternoon of January 6, 2010. (He had severe head injuries after his Dhruv chopper crashed on February 2, 2007. He remained in coma till he breathed his last on January 11, 2011.)

Jets’ family members tell Tarmak007 that so far, barring his provident fund (PF) -- which the IAF has no say in -- and a portion of his insurance dues, none of his other end-of-Service benefits have been delivered. Remember: All this after one year of his retirement from IAF! There is no intimation yet on his pension, gratuity, leave encashment and part of insurance payments. Also Jets’ December 2009 salary and 5 days of January payments too never came through.

Family sources say that Shalini was running the show with the arrears she got after the 6^th Pay Commission scales were implemented and with the PF money. Jets is survived by his wife, 2 children and aged parents -- Om Prakash Jetly (75) and mother Prem Jetly (65).

THIS IS SHOCK TREATMENT: It is disturbing to know that the IAF even refused to entertain Shalini’s repeated pleas for a teaching job at the The Air Force School (TAFS), Subroto Park in New Delhi. While one thought that the job was the only worrying point, it is really shocking to know the kind of trauma the wife of a star pilot had to go through all these while.

“This always happens if you are a helicopter pilot in the IAF. We get secondary treatment. Imagine if this was the case of a frontline fighter pilot. Things would have happened at a lightning speed. You might be surprised, but we are used to this kind of step-motherly treatment towards helicopter pilots. This has been a tradition that has been followed. It will never change. While we are all solidly behind Jets’ family, we can’t come out in the open and express our feelings. It is disgusting. After Jets’ left us and the kind of stories we hear from his family, we are all disturbed,” was the reaction of a senior IAF chopper pilot, who knew Jets, while he was operating in Leh.

WHO NEEDS AN ENEMY?: Says an email from Manoj Monga that came to the blogger: "I am ashamed to see that my country and one of its esteemed and professional armed forces (IAF) has stooped to such low levels that it does not even consider necessary to pay the dues to its pilot, who always put his life in the line for his country. The denied dues have been earned and not gifted, especially when one's funeral fires have been lit leaving behind a widow, two unsupported kids and aged parents. Get out of your slumber and give some respect to one of your own and get some dignity back. With people like these in our armed forces, who needs an enemy?"

Hope Shalini’s plight won’t get buried as IAF gears up for the Aero India plane carnival in Yelahanka in February? Hope the powers-that-be at the Air Headquarters will budge and end the suffering of Jets’ family? 

The Aero India 2011 will definitely lose its sheen if the MoD doesn't wake up and restore some lost pride due to this incident. The Sarangs will still perform, with heavy hearts, owing to the treatment meted out to their favorite Jet Sir. It will be a fitting tribute to Jets and his family, if the men in blue at Air HQ decide to solve this issue swiftly. If not, it's time for Mr A.K. Antony to step in and end this national shame. At least he owes an answer to the Nation.    

Touching the skies with glory! Well…

Related stories on this blog:

Friends share priceless memories

Sarang Team pays tributes to 'Jet Sir'

Top pilot's wife pleads for a teaching job

# 5. R.I.P. Winco Jetly: Friends share priceless memories of jumbo-hearted Jets; Tarmak007 to step-up 'Justice for Jetly' campaign

Photo 1: Team Sarang; Photo 2: Late night paan outing at Jodhpur during Sarang Yojana. Photo 3: Felicitation by Mahraja of Jodhpur Gaj Singh; Photo 4:  CO Flt Cdr (course mate ) and Jets cool off on the tarmac waiting for refueling during the long and frequent ferries; Photo 5: Sarang family at Goa in 2007, prior to coming back to Yelahanka for Aero India 07; Photo 6: Felicitation by Mahraja of Jodhpur Gaj Singh; Photo 7: At Saby's place during one of the social evenings; Photo 8:  Winco Menon and Jets (friends and crew of Sarang-2).

Photos Courtesy: Saby Kurian

(Request all Jetly’s friends (in IAF & others) to email his photos with the Sarang team or any other while in Service to: anantha.ak@gmail.com)

More campaign stories from Monday.