Here is the story of how the new Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, made history, one may say, on January 29, 1985. At the Beating Retreat Ceremony on Vijay Chowk he led a flight of a fantastic brand of jump-jet naval aircraft — the Sea Harrier. I wonder how many remember that day when in the majestic back-drop of the domes of the South and North Blocks, four of these magnificent machines made a hover, which means hanging in mid-air like a helicopter. Then, with a dipping salute to their Supreme Commander, Zail Singh, from zero speed they flew off spectacularly at supersonic speed. Truly a sight for the gods!Now how did it become possible and how did the air force allow this to happen? The first and only time that in the country’s capital fighter aircraft of the navy flew side by side the air force’s Hunters, reknowned for their heart-stopping aerobatics with the famed Bomb Burst as the finale. A dream turned to reality because the navy was headed at the time by an aviator, and a test pilot at that, Admiral Tahiliani. Equally, if not more, importantly the CEO on Raisina Hill at the time was none other than another distinguished flier, Rajiv Gandhi.Thus, it was plain sailing and the government’s nod was not difficult a-coming — but lest we forget, at the flight controls of the air force then was Air Chief Marshal ‘Baba’ Katre, a realist if ever there was one. Such then is the mettle of our armed forces who can perform unitedly and singularly to perfection.Indian naval aviation came of age quickly because our political masters after Independence saw merit in building a credible military force. Our tri-service profile was truly complete in the 1960s after we achieved the status of a three-dimensional navy which will now indeed play a crucial role in the ‘‘Triad’’, in support of our nuclear doctrine.But to complete my picture of Arun Prakash is an aside on how history would have been different had he, while converting to a variable-geometry aircraft in the UK, not survived the sea-ditching of his aircraft twenty-two years ago. He was for quite a few minutes in the drink, as we sea dogs say, in the Irish Sea and was successfully rescued because destiny had ruled that he live for another day.Good luck and peaceful hunting, Admiral!
