The Blue Skies Podcast

In the last and final part of our interview with Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, we discuss his experiences inducting the Jaguar into IAF service. We also discuss his role in the repatriation of Flt. Lt. Nachiketa, during the Kargil War.

In Part 3 of our interview with Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, we discuss his experiences training with the Royal Air Force on the Jaguar Aircraft. He was among the first batch of 12 pilots to be trained on that deep penetration strike aircraft. Learn how he was taught to drop "bombs in a bucket" from the RAF. 

In Part 2 of this 3-part interview with former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, we discuss the inter-war years, when he become a Pilot Attack Instructor, Instructor in the PAI school, participated in the 1971 War for the Liberation of Bangladesh, and became a Fighter Combat Leader. 

Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, PVSM, AVSM, VM, joins us for a series of interviews on his career and experiences. In Part 1, we speak about his initial journey into the Air Force, and experiences flying Hunters in a frontline squadron during the 65 War with Pakistan. 

Air Chief Marshal Tyagi's profile is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/8130 

and his bio is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/personnel/chiefs/shashi-tyagi/

This week's guest, AVM Samir Borade, VSM, speaks about the technical branch in the Indian Air Force. We learn about first, second, third and fourth line servicing, the MiG-29 Upgrade program, technical branch and flight safety, and the challenges of indigenization. 

AVM Borade's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/18761

Read about the MiG-29 UPG program here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Galleries/Aircraft/Current/Fighters/MiG29UPG/

This episode is a narration of an article written by Air Mshl Harish Masand, himself a veteran of the 1971 War where he shot down a Sabre, on what might have transpired in AB Devayya's final sortie. 

In this episode, aviation historian PVS Jagan Mohan joins me and we make an attempt to unravel the mystery behind the death of Sqn. Ldr. AB Devayya, MVC (Posthumous) on 7th Sept, 1965. The episodes includes interviews with officers who served with him, including on that fateful day.

Sqn. Ldr. Devayya's profile is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/4810

The India Today article Jagan references is here: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/19880415-squadron-leader-ayamada-bopayya-devayya-honoured-23-years-after-his-death-797132-1988-04-14

This week we speak to Wg. Cdr. SS Krishnamurthy, who is the young flying officer peering over Maj. Gen. JFR Jacob's shoulder in that iconic photograph of the surrender of Pakistan's Army in Dacca in December 1971. He talks of that experience, flying helicopters in Car Nicobar and the Antarctic, and more.

Wg. Cdr. Krishnamurthy's profile is here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/11660

A link to his book is here: https://www.amazon.in/dp/1648288391/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_DC5WG0V97EXE394966E4

In this episode, we speak to Air Mshl Anil Khosla, who recently retired as Vice Chief of Air Staff. Besides his experiences as a young officer, we focus on the role he played in the Doklam stand-off (when he was C-in-C Eastern Air Command) and the strike at Balakot (when he was Vice Chief). We also discuss the pros and cons of indigenous vs imported weapons platforms, the future of air war, and the Air Force's talent strategy, among other things.

Air Mshl Khosla's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/15871

His blog can be found here: https://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:00 Initial journey into IAF
00:13:14 Doklam incident
00:16:01 How to deal with China
00:19:09 Balakot
00:28:46 Maintain a tech edge
00:43:46 Future of air war
00:53:30 Finding talent for the IAF

In this weekend's episode, we speak to Air Cmde BS Siwach about a daring rescue from Mt. Nunkun, flying helicopters in the North East, VIP flying and most importantly, his role as the Air Force commander of the UN forces in Sierra Leone during Op Khukri, the daring rescue of our trapped soldiers.

Air Cmde Siwach's profile is here.

You can read more about Op Khukri here.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:16 Initial journey into IAF
00:08:55 Flying in the North East
00:14:38 Rescue on Mt. Nunkun
00:22:18 Safety consideration in Helo ops
00:24:11 Humanitarian relief operations
00:29:35 VIP Flying
00:39:56 Thoughts on Gen Rawat's accident
00:47:24 Op Khukri