IAF chief A.P. Singh completes final Kiran sortie with first flying instructor
Synopsis
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh flew his last trainer sortie in the same HJT-16 Kiran aircraft, at the same Dundigal academy, alongside the same instructor who first taught him in 1984 — completing a 42-year arc just days before his 31 October retirement. He is reportedly the only IAF chief to retire while the aircraft he first flew is still in active service.
Key Takeaways
Air Chief Marshal A.P.
Singh completed his final trainer sortie in a HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 at Air Force Academy, Dundigal on 20 October 2026 .
The 55-minute flight was conducted alongside his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V.S.
Kochar (retd) , who is now 73 years old .
Singh's maiden sortie had taken place at the same location on 28 January 1984 — over 42 years ago — in the same aircraft type.
The sortie was concluded with a water cannon salute in Singh's honour.
Air Chief Marshal Singh is set to superannuate on 31 October 2026 , with Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named as his successor.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, flew a HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer aircraft at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal, Hyderabad, completing his final trainer sortie in uniform and bringing a four-decade flying career full circle. The 55-minute flight carried deep personal and institutional significance — Singh flew alongside the same instructor who first put him in a cockpit, in the same type of aircraft, at the same academy where his journey began.
A Full Circle, Four Decades in the Making
Air Chief Marshal Singh undertook his maiden sortie on 28 January 1984 — also at Dundigal, also in a Kiran aircraft, and also under the guidance of Wing Commander V.S. Kochar (retd). Tuesday's flight, conducted in an aircraft bearing tail number U 707, replicated that very configuration more than 42 years later. An IAF official described it as 'a poignant reunion between instructor and student, reconnecting the CAS with the beginnings of his flying journey in the Indian Air Force.'
Following the sortie, Air Chief Marshal Singh was accorded a water cannon salute — a ceremonial honour typically reserved for milestone flights — marking the formal conclusion of the occasion.
What the IAF Chief Said
Speaking to reporters after the event, Singh called the experience a lifelong aspiration fulfilled. 'It was really a dream come true. I started my journey with the same aircraft. I think I must be the only chief who is retiring while the basic aircraft he flew is still serving. So, I think I'm very grateful. I'm very grateful to my instructor, Wing Commander Kochhar Sir, who taught me flying in the beginning, in this place itself. And so, I just wanted the circle to be complete,' he said.
He further recalled: 'I did my first sortie on Jan 28, way back in 1984, in this very place with him, in a Kiran aircraft. And today, I did my last sortie in uniform with him in the same Kiran aircraft.'
The Instructor Speaks
Wing Commander Kochar (retd), now 73 years old, expressed emotion at the opportunity to fly once more alongside his former student. 'He is the brightest person ever. He made my dream also come true to get one more trip. Now I'm 73. So, to get another trip with the bestest person ever in this world, the best Chief, I hope the Air Force goes even higher,' he told reporters.
The Kiran's Legacy in IAF Training
The HJT-16 Kiran is an indigenous jet trainer that has been central to IAF pilot training for decades, having shaped generations of air warriors from the same academy at Dundigal. IAF officials noted that Tuesday's flight was 'a tribute to the rich tradition of flying training in the Indian Air Force and to the invaluable role played by flying instructors in nurturing generations of air warriors.' The fact that the Kiran remains in active service even as the officer who first flew it prepares to retire underscores the aircraft's enduring role in the force's training pipeline.
Succession and Superannuation
Air Chief Marshal Singh is scheduled to superannuate on 31 October 2026. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, is set to succeed him as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force. Tuesday's final trainer sortie is widely seen as the symbolic close of Singh's uniformed flying career ahead of his formal retirement.
Point of View
Same instructor, same academy, four decades apart — is exceptional even by the standards of the IAF's ceremonial tradition. What makes it institutionally notable is his own observation: he may be the only IAF chief to retire while the basic trainer he first flew remains in active service, a quiet commentary on both the longevity of the Kiran platform and the pace of India's trainer modernisation. The incoming chief, Air Marshal Dixit, will inherit an air force that is simultaneously honouring its legacy hardware and facing urgent pressure to accelerate fleet upgrades. The warmth of Tuesday's ceremony should not obscure that transition challenge.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh's final sortie?
Air Chief Marshal Singh flew his last trainer sortie on 20 October 2026 in the same HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 aircraft type in which he began his flying career in 1984, at the same Air Force Academy in Dundigal, and alongside the same instructor. The 55-minute flight symbolically completed a 42-year arc in his uniformed flying career, just days before his scheduled retirement on 31 October 2026.
Who is Wing Commander V.S. Kochar and why is he significant?
Wing Commander V.S. Kochar (retd) was Air Chief Marshal Singh's first flying instructor when Singh undertook his maiden sortie on 28 January 1984. Now 73 years old, Kochar flew alongside Singh again on Tuesday, making the final sortie a rare reunion spanning over four decades.
When does Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh retire?
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh is scheduled to superannuate on 31 October 2026. He will be succeeded by Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the current Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
What is the HJT-16 Kiran aircraft?
The HJT-16 Kiran is an indigenous jet trainer aircraft that has been a cornerstone of Indian Air Force pilot training for decades. It has trained generations of IAF pilots at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal and remains in active service, making Singh reportedly the only IAF chief to retire while the aircraft he first flew is still operational.
Where did the final sortie take place and what ceremony followed?
The sortie took place at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, near Hyderabad, in an aircraft bearing tail number U 707. Following the 55-minute flight, Air Chief Marshal Singh was accorded a water cannon salute — a ceremonial honour marking the conclusion of the milestone sortie.
