This is the episode you've all been waiting for! We interview Air Cmde NS Jamwal, a test pilot who trained on the Su-30K, then converted to the Su-30MKI and commanded the first squadron. He was also the designated demo pilot of that aircraft.

Air Cmde Jamwal's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/17156

A flying demo of the Su-30MKI featuring the Loop, Tumble and Yaw can be seen here: https://youtu.be/xeLkzJ9nk7I

This week, we speak to a veteran of the IAF's transport fleet - light, medium and heavy transport aircraft like the Dakota, Dornier-228, HS-748, AN-32 and IL-76, Gp Capt RK Sharma. He was an instructor and examiner on many of these types, and landed the first Dornier 228 at Leh and Thoise, far in excess of the aircraft manufacturer's published limits of performance. 

Gp Capt Sharma's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16050

More about the Do-228 can be found here: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/aircraft/specs/573-dornier-228.html and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_228

In the final interview of the series on the LCA Tejas, we interview Wg. Cdr. Rajiv Kothiyal, KC, the test pilot who was at the controls at the first flight of the aircraft. Trained at the USAF Test Pilot's school at Edwards Air Force Base, Wg. Cdr. Kothiyal was awarded a Kirti Chakra for the first flight, and the prestigious Ivan C. Kinchloe Award for outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, SETP. 

A full video of his first flight is here: https://youtu.be/U_7HGD61wLQ
Wg. Cdr. Kothiyal's profile is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/15696

Part 2 of the interview on the LCA with Cmde Jaideep Maolankar focuses on the requirements, challenges and journey of the Naval version of the LCA. 

View a video of his first deck landing here: https://youtu.be/WgcAQrTvs8g
And the first takeoff here: https://youtu.be/Iw6tLOMZzbI

Former Guest and Naval Fighter / Test pilot Cmde Jaideep Maolankar joins us for the last few episodes on the LCA. In his usual lucid style, he speaks about his experiences test flying the LCA, how he leveraged his experience of the Limited Upgrade of Sea Harrier (LUSH) program for integrating the Derby missile on the Tejas, and the essence of flying demonstrations, especially the Bahrain flying demo that can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W23mLABs5o

More about the LCA project can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas

Continuing our miniseries on the LCA Tejas, we change gears slightly to interview Wg. Cdr. PK Raveendran, SC, a past guest on the program. Wg. Cdr. Raveendran was the Flight Test Director at the time of the LCA's first flight, and for many years thereafter. 

The full video of the LCA first flight, where he was the Flight Test Director who gave the "Clear to Go" command, can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_7HGD61wLQ&t=388s

Wg. Cdr. Raveendran's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/12821

In Part 4 of the miniseries on the LCA Tejas, we speak with Gp Capt Ritu Raj Tyagi, a former Jaguar pilot and test pilot who flew more than 650+ test flights on the LCA, the most by any pilot. Given his Jaguar background, he was involved with a significant portion of testing Air to Surface weapons, but also got to fire many Air to Air weapons too, including this breathtaking dual firing at Iron Fist 2013, which he describes in the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXGV9o8L_sY

Gp Capt Tyagi's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/18571

We apologise in advance for poor audio quality. This was the only way we could get him on record... The alternative was to drop him the miniseries which we were loath to do. However, a transcript is available here: https://blueskiespodcast.com/transcripts

In Part 3 of the miniseries on the LCA Tejas, we speak with Air Cmde Harish Nayani, a past guest on the program. He talks about the first flight of PV-3, developing the MFDs for the Tejas, demonstrating the aircraft at Aero India, and firing the R-73 All Aspect Air to Air Missile. 

Air Cmde Nayani's profile can be found here: Air Cmde Nayani's bio can be seen at this link: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/17135

In Part 2 of our series of interviews on the LCA Tejas, we speak with Gp Capt Suneet Krishna, a test pilot who was in the rear seat of the chase aircraft and filmed the first flight. He went on to participate extensively in the testing of the LCA, survived a dangerous dual hydraulic failure, performed various trials such as formation flying, carefree maneuvering, firing various weapons such as R-73 Air to Air missile using a Helmet Mounted Display, and firing a Laser Guided Bomb.

Gp Capt Krishna's profile can be found here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/20472

In Part 1 of a miniseries on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), christened Tejas, we speak to Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM, who was closely involved with the development of the aircraft in multiple roles, most importantly as head of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) that was dedicated to the flight testing of the aircraft.

Air Mshl Rajkumar co-authored an authoritative book on the project, "Tejas: Radiance in Indian Skies", produced by Desidoc, which can be ordered here or the first few pages downloaded for free.

More about the LCA project can be found here.