News for 'Air Commodore'

IAF Will Touch The Sky With Further Glory

IAF Will Touch The Sky With Further Glory

Rediff.com30 Sep 2021

Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, who will head the IAF from October 1, will keep our fighting capabilities sharpened and operationally ready for conflict at all times, notes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).

Pakistan scrambles fighter jets over major cities

Pakistan scrambles fighter jets over major cities

Rediff.com22 Dec 2008

The aircraft roared over Islamabad, the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi and other cities this afternoon as Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Humayun Viqar Zephyr said in a statement: "in view of the current environment, PAF has enhanced its vigilance."

China a strategic challenge, not threat: Experts

China a strategic challenge, not threat: Experts

Rediff.com25 Nov 2009

China is India's longtime "strategic challenge" but not a "threat", a group of strategic and defence experts said today.

Helicopter makes emergency landing on terrace of apartment

Helicopter makes emergency landing on terrace of apartment

Rediff.com12 Apr 2012

A helicopter on a training sortie made an emergency landing on the terrace of a five-storey residential apartment building in Bangalore on Thursday due to a technical snag, but both the pilot and the trainee on board are safe, authorities said.

Are IT Companies Avoiding Placement Season?

Are IT Companies Avoiding Placement Season?

Rediff.com7 Aug 2023

'Companies are coming to the campuses, and we have companies booking their slots for the placement season, but the overall number of companies signing is low, and the hiring numbers are also lower.'

Why We IAF Pilots Love Our Ray-Bans

Why We IAF Pilots Love Our Ray-Bans

Rediff.com9 Jun 2023

'I was a young pilot in the IAF and Tom Cruise (with his genuine Ray-Bans) was now an icon with his sensational performance in Top Gun.' 'The IAF, maybe influenced by the movie, decided to 'issue' pilots Ray-Bans as part of their flying kit,' remembers IAF Veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe.

YSR's chopper traced, in 'very bad condition'

YSR's chopper traced, in 'very bad condition'

Rediff.com3 Sep 2009

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's helicopter has been traced, an Air Force official stated on Thursday morning."We have located the helicopter. It is on top of a hill. It is located at a distance of 40 nautical miles east of Kurnool," an IAF official told mediapersons on Thursday.He added that the IAF had already sent two helicopters to the area, which were looking for a place to land. "But it is on top of a hill, in a jungle, so it is difficult," he said.

1965 war: A reality check

1965 war: A reality check

Rediff.com17 Oct 2005

IAF rescues Canadian diplomat, family

IAF rescues Canadian diplomat, family

Rediff.com16 Jun 2005

An Indian Air Force special rescue team on Thursday rescued Canadian diplomat, Andrew Norfolk, his injured wife and their three children trapped in snow in Dhauladhar ranges, north of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, since Wednesday.

A few good men and the angry sea

A few good men and the angry sea

Rediff.com5 Jan 2015

A Few Good Men and the Angry Sea: 2004 Tsunami, the IAF Story, is the incredible story of survival, guts, resilience and indomitable spirit of the air warriors and their families, civilians and the government's efforts in rebuilding the strategically important military Car Nicobar air base.

The Tejas Is 20 Years Old!

The Tejas Is 20 Years Old!

Rediff.com5 Jan 2021

On the 20th anniversary of the first flight of the Tejas, we must congratulate the entire team who made sure that the LCA flew and returned safely on January 4, 2001, sowing the seed for development of a state-of-the-art fighter airplane that our country so badly needed, says IAF veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe.

Operation to fully sanitise Pathankot air base in last leg

Operation to fully sanitise Pathankot air base in last leg

Rediff.com8 Jan 2016

The operation to fully sanitise the Pathankot Air base, which was attacked by six terrorists last Saturday, is "close to completion" with the personnel of the National Security Guard, the army and the Garud commandos of Indian Air Force undertaking the task on the sprawling complex.

MiG-21 crashes near Kurseong; pilot feared killed

MiG-21 crashes near Kurseong; pilot feared killed

Rediff.com1 Mar 2007

The jet took off for a practice flight at around 1.00 pm with Squadron Leader Pandey piloting it.

CBI names ex-defence secretary SK Sharma, 4 IAF officers in AgustaWestland charge sheet

CBI names ex-defence secretary SK Sharma, 4 IAF officers in AgustaWestland charge sheet

Rediff.com16 Mar 2022

The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a supplementary charge sheet in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland scam against former defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and four Indian Air Force personnel, officials said Wednesday.

An Israeli shot in the arm for HAL

An Israeli shot in the arm for HAL

Rediff.com19 Jul 2006

IAF's Jaguar aircraft crashes in UP, pilot ejects

IAF's Jaguar aircraft crashes in UP, pilot ejects

Rediff.com29 Jan 2019

The military aircraft crashed soon after taking off on a routine mission from Gorakhpur.

'To me, this is true patriotism'

'To me, this is true patriotism'

Rediff.com14 Feb 2018

'To me, this is true patriotism - not deciding who should and should not say 'Bharat Mata ki jai,' in what language, with what inflexion, at what time, etc, but the recognition that the Indians who protected our country and the military traditions that made those men, must be honoured,' says Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

What Was Jawan All About?

What Was Jawan All About?

Rediff.com2 Oct 2023

There is no plot, no central story line or theme. It appears Atlee felt if he put a Shah Rukh Khan (there are two of them actually!) on screen doing just about anything, the film would sell, sighs Nitin Sathe.

Why Do Indians Have To Die in Congo?

Why Do Indians Have To Die in Congo?

Rediff.com2 Aug 2022

Last week, two BSF troopers from Rajasthan, members of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Congo, were killed by protestors. Do we need to lose lives fighting in a country not ours, in a war that is not ours and for a cause that is not ours, asks Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd), who served in the UNPKF in Congo.

'Astronauts may have died painlessly'

'Astronauts may have died painlessly'

Rediff.com2 Feb 2003

Former IAF officer R Gopalaswami said the re-entry temperature would have been so high that the bodies of the astronauts would have been vaporised before their brains would have realised it.

Eminent persons lobby for Mufti

Eminent persons lobby for Mufti

Rediff.com25 Oct 2005

Thousands bid tearful farewell to Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal

Thousands bid tearful farewell to Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal

Rediff.com30 Jul 2022

Slogans for his long afterlife rented the air, as coffin of Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal arrived at his home in Jinder Mehlu hamlet of border belt of R S Pura, where thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects to the fighter pilot.

When IAF Secretly Brought Prabhakaran To India

When IAF Secretly Brought Prabhakaran To India

Rediff.com24 Jul 2023

'With butterflies in our stomachs, but confident of our mission, we took off for Jaffna on the morning of 24 July 1987.' IAF Veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe recalls a conversation with Air Vice Marshal Harpal Singh Ahluwalia (retd), then a wing commander and mission leader for the clandestine operation.

The Peeli-Peelis of Kolkata

The Peeli-Peelis of Kolkata

Rediff.com27 Sep 2024

As Kolkata marches towards modernity, it is hard to imagine its streets without these cabs, notes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).

Avani Chaturvedi becomes first Indian woman to fly a fighter jet

Avani Chaturvedi becomes first Indian woman to fly a fighter jet

Rediff.com22 Feb 2018

Avani Chaturvedi flew a MiG-21 bison in her first training solo sortie, in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

When a fighter pilot prepares to fly...

When a fighter pilot prepares to fly...

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

What does a fighter pilot feel as he takes off and lands his battle-ready aircraft? Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd) takes you through those emotions.

How Rafale will be inducted in the IAF

How Rafale will be inducted in the IAF

Rediff.com9 Sep 2020

The entire base must be spic and span with flags fluttering along the roads. Everything that moves will be washed and bedecked with the best while everything that is static will be painted afresh, observes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).

LCA breaks sound barrier during test flight

LCA breaks sound barrier during test flight

Rediff.com2 Aug 2003

The success of the flight has sent the aspirations of the defence establishment soaring with plans being made to design a Medium Combat Aircraft.

Pregnant woman among thousands rescued from flooded Chennai

Pregnant woman among thousands rescued from flooded Chennai

Rediff.com3 Dec 2015

Rescue and relief operations continued in full swing in Chennai with over a hundred people taken to safety by teams of Army, IAF and NDRF, including a seven-month pregnant woman who was airlifted on Thursday from one of the worst-affected areas in the flooded city.

When the IAF trained Pakistani pilots!

When the IAF trained Pakistani pilots!

Rediff.com17 Feb 2021

Air Commodore Nitin Sathe discovers how the IAF trained Pakistani air force pilots, during the 1971 War, which led to the birth of the Bangladesh air force.

'We could make mincemeat of the Pakistanis'

'We could make mincemeat of the Pakistanis'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2023

'My adrenalin kicked in and the happiness returned! It was time to go in for the kill again.' IAF Veterans Group Captain Dilip Kumar Dass tells Air Commodore Nitin Sathe about how the IAF decimated tanks in the famous Battle of Longewala.

Pathankot operation continues; 2 terrorists still holed up

Pathankot operation continues; 2 terrorists still holed up

Rediff.com3 Jan 2016

Intermittent blasts and exchange of fire to neutralise two more terrorists continued on Sunday night at Air Force Station in Pathankot, Punjab where four terrorists were killed, seven security men lost their lives and 17 persons were injured in the over 40-hour-long operation.

Deoghar Disaster: IAF's Mission Impossible

Deoghar Disaster: IAF's Mission Impossible

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

'Imagine hanging from a thin steel cable under a helicopter with certain death staring at you below, being pulled up slowly in the din and downwash of the helicopter.' IAF Veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe, a helicopter pilot himself, reports on how the air force rescued those trapped in the Deoghar cable cars disaster last fortnight.

Navy boosts coastal anti-submarine ops with launch of 2 new warships

Navy boosts coastal anti-submarine ops with launch of 2 new warships

Rediff.com13 Mar 2024

The two anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited were launched by Neeta Chaudhari, wife of Chief of Air Staff of Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari.

'India needs 6 carriers like the Vikrant'

'India needs 6 carriers like the Vikrant'

Rediff.com2 Sep 2022

'... To ensure that the vast Indian Ocean Region remain peaceful.'

Traveling On A Vande Bharat Train

Traveling On A Vande Bharat Train

Rediff.com19 Jul 2023

This is not a train for the regular commuter, evident from the number of large sized bags in the overhead bin, observes IAF Veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe.

India asks China to avoid Ladakh airspace violations

India asks China to avoid Ladakh airspace violations

Rediff.com5 Aug 2022

India and China held a special round of military talks on Tuesday at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point in Eastern Ladakh to discuss air space violations and provocations by the Chinese side in that area in the last 45 days.

Army chief visits forward areas along Pak border

Army chief visits forward areas along Pak border

Rediff.com13 Jul 2020

He visited areas falling under the operational command of the Rising Star Corps, including Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Pathankot, to review the security situation.

A Flying Legend Takes Off For The Ages

A Flying Legend Takes Off For The Ages

Rediff.com31 Oct 2023

Valhalla is undoubtedly enriched by the presence of Unnikrishnan Gangadharan Kartha. He would have already convened the 'fall in' and regaled his friends with tales of the distant land that they once inhabited.

Vikrant: 'Multiple Celebration Of India'

Vikrant: 'Multiple Celebration Of India'

Rediff.com2 Sep 2022

In a record time of 13 years, the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant is now ready for formal induction into the Indian Navy.