Top Gun!

When I was in class 10 in K.V. HMT Pinjore in 1987

one of my juniors was Vinod Mittal

a young mischievous, sharpminded but academically weak boy

not too much in the good books of teachers!

After completing his 12th standard after somewhat struggle

someone guided him to apply for the post of Airman in Indian Air Force.

An airman in IAF is equivalent to Sepoy in the Army and Seaman in the Navy.

He got selected.

His parents must have been happy for their shaky son having got a stable job

but somehow the young restless Vinod wasn't.

He knew that he had settled for the entry-level post in IAF

He knew that though he had got a job, his flight in life was also capped.

He knew he was different but his academic weakness and insecurity caused by it had sealed his ambitions.

He started his training for the Airman.

He used to see trainees of his age being moulded into pilots on the same airbase he was posted at.

One day he came to know about a lateral entry scheme wherein 1 or 2 airmen who were highly talented but somehow had landed in the airman's uniform were given a chance to qualify for pilot's role.

1000 airmen were shortlisted and Vinod Mittal was one of them.

Out of those 1000, 10 were shortlisted and Vinod Mittal was one of them.

Out of those 10 only 2 were finally selected and Vinod Mittal was one of them.

Thereafter we lost track of the lucky man!

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After almost 2 years one fine Sunday of 1992, I was strolling in the famous Yadvindera Gardens in Pinjore with my childhood friend Ashish Dewett when we saw a dashing young man say hello to us!

In front of us stood a smart guy with minimal hair on his head, chest out, head held high, smile on his tough face and proud shining eyes behind dashing Aviator Rayban!

Flight Lieutinent Vinod Mittal !!!

We were amazed beyond words !!!!!

We shook hands and sat in the cafeteria nearby.

There the Flight Lieutinent shared his amazing story...

After having got selected for the pilot's training

He had been further marked for the training as a FIGHTER pilot

not only this, he was further marked to the fighter pilot for a CHOPPER and not jet.

To be a fighter pilot of a combat chopper is arguably more demanding than being the fighter pilot of a jet!

Perhaps because choppers can't fly high and fast enough to escape the enemy missiles that easily!

But choppers can strike the places and the way no jet can!!!

"Why do your lips seem as if you have been training as a boxer?" I asked him jokingly.

"Training!" he replied.

"A squadron leader trains two pilots in one go inside the cockpit after the theory session.

My trainer makes me and my buddy pilot sit on his either side inside a cockpit near his elbows.

Then he gives us a situation and asks for the answer.

We have to reply in a flash.

If we delay our response or give a weak or wrong response

BanG! hits his elbow on our cheek or chin!

My lips often come in the way!" he gave a 1000 watt smile.

"Tell us more about the training." Ashish asked Flight Lieutinent Vinod Mittal.

"Inside our cubicles, right in front of our study table we have pasted a huge poster of the cockpit.

This way we are always programming our minds to get accustomed to the cockpit.

The cockpit has become our world.

On the front wall of our cubicle, right in front of our beds

we have written formulae and readings and instructions

so that whenever we are lying in our bed but awake

we keep revising and repeating them.

These readings and formulae and instructions have to pop out of us in a flash when the situation comes.

We have to be the best.

Afterall, a nation is at stake!"

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If only we traders train the way the IAF trains its fighter pilots!

for we are no less than fighters pilots

and that too of a chopper which is an easy target of the market missiles!