HYDERABAD: A colourful ceremony of the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) of the flight cadets of all branches of the Indian Air Force, who successfully completed pre-commissioning training, was held at the Air Force Academy (AFA) at Dundigal here today.
Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Deepak Kapoor reviewed the parade and awarded the President’s Commission to the flight cadets on behalf of the President, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces. A total of 173 Flight Cadets passed out from Air Force Academy as Flying Officers.
Three officers from the Navy and one from the Coast Guard also got their flying wings at the CGP. The parade marked the culmination of training to flight cadets at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad; AFAC (Coimbatore), Air Defence College (Lucknow), Air Force Station, Hakimpet and Begumpet in Hyderabad, and Yelahanka near Bangalore.
Gen Kapoor, on his arrival yesterday, was received with full ceremonial honours by Air Marshal VR Iyer, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command and Air Vice Marshal KJ Mathews, Commandant, Air Force Academy.
Flying Officer Himanshu Gupta, who commanded the parade, was awarded the President’s Plaque and Chief of the Air Staff the `Sword of Honour’ for standing first in the overall order of merit amongst No. 183 Pilot Course.
Flying Officer Rekha Yadav was awarded the President’s Plaque for standing first in the overall order of merit amongst 124 Ground Duty Officer trainees. Flying Officer Rahul Singh was awarded President’s Plaque for being first in the order of merit amongst 108 Navigation trainees.
The newly commissioned officers received their first salute from their immediate junior Cadets at the end of the parade while marching to the lilting notes of `Auld Lang Syne’. After reviewing the parade, Gen Kapoor congratulated all the newly commissioned Flying Officers and their parents. He exhorted them to develop leadership qualities with focus on team work and practicing the cardinal values of honour, valour and integrity. He told them to move ahead keeping the national interest always foremost in their minds while discharging duties.
AEROBATIC DISPLAY: There was a traditional flypast by Chetak helicopters, Kiran, HPT-32, AN-32, Dornier and the newly-inducted Hawk aircraft. An exhilarating and scintillating air show by the Surya Kiran aerobatic team and the Sarang helicopter display team kept the audience spell-bound.
The Air Warrior Drill and Akash Ganga Skydiving teams were the added attractions. A large number of retired and serving defence officers, civilian dignitaries, service personnel and their families witnessed the colourful event.