Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh completed his final flying sortie in an Indian Air Force aircraft on October 20, 2026, taking to the skies alongside his very first flight instructor at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal near Hyderabad.

A Triumphant Return to the Cockpit

The 55-minute operational mission served as a powerful testament to military tradition and aviation heritage. Flying inside an HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 jet trainer bearing tail number U 707, Air Chief Marshal Singh was accompanied by Wing Commander V. S. Kochar (Retd), the veteran instructor who first guided his hands on the controls decades ago. The sortie marked a remarkable reunion, placing teacher and pupil side by side once again at the controls of an active military aircraft.

For the Chief of the Air Staff, the flight brought an exceptional four-decade operational timeline to its official close. Singh undertook his inaugural flying sortie on January 28, 1984. Spanning more than 42 years of active service, his career culminated in this triumphant final flight, celebrating both the zenith of institutional command and the foundational beginnings of an officer’s journey.

The Enduring Footprint in Telangana

This historic occasion held particular significance for Telangana, taking place within the sprawling grounds and dedicated airspace of the Air Force Academy in Dundigal. Located near Hyderabad, the academy serves as the cradle of officer flight training for the Indian Air Force, shaping the character and skills of every cadet entering service. The staging of such an unprecedented milestone on local soil reinforces Telangana’s enduring contribution to India’s military aviation infrastructure, as the academy’s runways witnessed the ceremonial conclusion of a career that first took wing in the same training ecosystem.

The Heritage of the Kiran Trainer

The deliberate selection of the HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 for the sortie provided deep symbolic resonance. As an indigenous platform that has trained successive generations of Indian military pilots, the Kiran represents the bedrock of IAF flying fundamentals. By choosing this intermediate jet trainer for his final airborne hours, the Air Chief honored the lineage of aircraft that have fostered airmanship, tactical discipline, and combat readiness across decades of service history.

The sortie highlighted the lasting influence of flying instructors, who continue to mentor aircrew throughout their careers.

Celebrating Mentorship and Legacy

Beyond the technical milestone, the presence of Wing Commander Kochar captured the profound ethos of flight instruction. The bond forged between a student pilot and an instructor remains among the most durable connections in armed forces aviation, where foundational lessons directly underpin survivability and excellence in operational commands. Watching a former student rise through the ranks to lead the service, only to return to the tandem cockpit for a final sortie with his mentor, created an unforgettable statement of gratitude and institutional continuity.

With the touchdown of tail number U 707 at Dundigal, Air Chief Marshal Singh drew down his flying hours within Indian Air Force cockpits. The sortie preserved an exceptional legacy of commitment, discipline, and personal reverence for the instructors whose guidance shapes the guardians of the skies.