After the 1962 Chinese aggression there was large scale induction to fill the vacancies in all the three arms of the Defence Services . Indian Air Force had also inducted large number of eligible bright young men for Pilot's training . These were called direct entry flight cadets . For the first time The IAF had people from very heterogeneous social back ground . Very strict and rigid standards during every stage of flying training ensured that only the ablest cadets progressed to further stage of flying training . After passing out from Air Force Flying College Jodhpur those of us considered good enough were posted for fighter flying training to Hakimpet for training on Vampire Aircraft.We were issued Pilots Notes for the aircraft and we had to really know the whole thing by heart as one never knew which part of the training notes would come in handy to save your life in an emergency.A written test on Pilots notes was conducted passing in which was mandatory before one could commence flying..As the number of pupils was large each instructor had about 6 to 7 cadets .
1 sep65 to 20sep.
After a brief interruption due to Indo Pak War our Pilots Course completed its flying Training at Air Force Flying College, Jodhpur..We eagerly awaited our further postings as it was after this stage that we cadets, based on performance, were allotted different aircraft streams .Fighter stream cadets were posted to Hakimpet , transport stream to Yelahanka and Helicopter stream to Begumpet .
After completing our flying training at Air Force College , Jodhpur , based on the performance, we cadets were allotted different aircraft streams .Fighter stream cadets were posted to Hakimpet , transport stream to Yelahanka and Helicopter stream to Begumpet . I was one of the 50 - 60 odd cadets posted to Hakimpet to undergo further "Advanced Flying Training" on Vampire Trainer aircraft which was fitted with an ejection seat . Prior to commencement of flying training we were issued flying clothing , Aircraft Manual and the Pilots Notes .Next 15 - 20 days were grueling hard work, as along with all the tough physical routine , we had to know the aircraft inside out and during the blindfold check , unerringly put our fingers on the switches/ controls named by the Instructor Examiner.We also had to learn the Pilots Notes , checks and procedures and Vital Actions by heart .Finally the day dawned when we were to commence flying . Our Instructor briefed seven of us pupils on the sortie , which was an air experience and local flying area familarisation sortie.As was normal he also covered mso ajor aircraft emergencies and emergency actions to be taken . Finally he said in case the emergency is so critical that we have to abandon the aircraft , I will call out "EJECT", don't ask "what Sir" because I would have ejected and abandoned the aircraft .It was here that one of my co-upil blurted out "What Sir" . Needless to say after a moments silence all of us burst out laughing . That cadet for many years to come was nick named "What Sir "
The FINAL VERSION sent on 23 Dec 2010:-
After completing our flying training at Air Force College , Jodhpur , I along with 50 - 60 odd cadets was posted to Hakimpet to undergo further "Advanced Flying Training" on Vampire Trainer aircraft which was fitted with an ejection seat .After reporting next 15 - 20 days were grueling hard work, as along with all the tough physical routine , we had to know the aircraft inside out and during the blindfold check , unerringly put our fingers on the switches/ controls named by the Instructor Examiner.We also had to learn the Pilots Notes , checks and procedures and Vital Actions by heart .Finally the day dawned when we were to commence flying . Our Instructor briefed seven of us pupils on the sortie , which was an air experience and local flying area familarisation sortie.As was normal he also covered major aircraft emergencies and emergency actions to be taken . Finally he said in case the emergency was so critical that we had to abandon the aircraft , he would call out "EJECT" and then, don't ask "what Sir" because he would have ejected and abandoned the aircraft .It was here that one of my co-upil blurted out "What Sir" . Needless to say after a moment's silence all of us burst out laughing . That cadet for many years to come was nick named "What Sir "
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