sukhoi sorties: A year on, IAF still waits for Tendulkar, Dhoni to pad up

[sudhir007]

sukhoi sorties: A year on, IAF still waits for Tendulkar, Dhoni to pad up | idrw.org

Just after he completed his IPL commitment, he found time to take oath as Rajya Sabha MP. But for the Indian Air Force (IAF), Honorary Group Captain Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar seems too busy to represent the Air Force, or for that matter, take a Sukhoi sortie that would earn him an ‘honorary wing’Almost 20 months after being conferred the rank of Honorary Group Captain, Tendulkar is yet to undertake his Sukhoi sortie from the IAF 2 Wing, Lohegaon. The case is no different with Dhoni who, instead of Pune, is likely to fly from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, which hosts two Sukhoi squadrons. Earlier, both were to fly from Pune.

“The sorties have not been called off. Their schedules have been busy. The sorties would be carried out at a mutually convenient time,” said an official with Air Headquarters, New Delhi. “It is likely that Dhoni will fly from Bareilly,” said another IAF official.

Air Chief Marshal (retd) P V Naik, who was instrumental in bestowing the cricketinglegend with the IAF honorary rank, said, “We wanted to give Tendulkar a sortie immediately after he was conferred the rank so that we could give him a honorary wing. But he has been genuinely busy. I am sure the IAF is pursuing the matter and the sortie will happen when he has the time.”

Naik added, “I am disappointed. I had expected that after being conferred the rank, he would join us (IAF) on important occasions, attract quality youth, but he has been busy.”

In January 2011, Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi, AOC-in-C, Gandhinagar-based South Western Air Command, had said during a visit to 2 Wing that a proposal for Tendulkar’s sortie had been sent to MoD and if approved, would happen from Pune. After India’s World Cup victoryin April 2011, Naik had reportedly said he would seek special permission from the government so that Dhoni and Tendulkar could experience a Su-30MKI flight. “Once Sachin and Dhoni are free from their cricketing engagements, I will ensure that they get to fly Su-30MKI,” he was quoted as saying.

MoD reportedly gave an informal green signal to the two sorties in July 2011. IAF officials had also indicated that the sorties would take place in Pune after team India’s West Indies tour in June-July last year. It has been a year post MoD nod, but there does not seem to be a mutually convenient time for it. “If Dhoni can visit troops on LoC, Tendulkar should give time to be the IAF brand ambassador,” said an officer.

 

[OrionHunter]

Dhoni and Tendulkar may be good at swinging their willows but seem sh!t scared of flying in a Sukhoi! After all, barrel rolls and g forces are not meant for the squeamish! That's the difference between men and the boys!!

 

[sudhir007]

MS Dhoni visits Kargil, pays homage to martyrs of 1999 | idrw.org

Indian Cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday visited the theatre of the 1999 Kargil Conflict and wondered how Indian soldiers had pushed back Pakistanis from the heights they had occupied in winter.

Dhoni, who has been accorded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, visited Dras and Kargil on the second day of his visit to the Ladakh region.

He paid homage to the “martyrs of the Indian Army at the War Memorial there,” said the atrmy’s Northern Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Rajesh Kalia.

The Kargil sector is characterized by rugged peaks and hostile weather conditions that demand utmost physical and mental fitness from the soldiers to operate here.

“It amazes me to see our brave soldiers withstanding such rugged terrain and weather to protect our national frontiers,” said a visibly-moved Dhoni after interacting with the troops here.

“Dhoni’s visit has come as a big morale booster to the troops deployed in the remote and inaccessible areas of Ladakh,” said the spokesman.