Every Indian Air Force pilot takes pride in qualifying as a flying Instructor(QFI) or test Pilot (ETP) or graduating from TACDE (Topgun of India). Many qualify for two of these, but all three -> that is rarest of rare. Only five pilots achieved this rare feat.
Gp Capt AR Oak was the first officer in IAF to be a TP, QFI & PAI. From the 45th NDA/ 114 PC, commissioned in 1975, commanded 2 Sqn, he was awarded Yudh Seva Medal during Kargil for his role as Air-1, J&K. He retd as Chief TP of HAL Nasik in 2004.
The previous chief, ACM RKS Bhaduaria, 56 NDA was the next one to be a QFI (Cat A2 at that), Test Pilot, and PAI. He commanded the Flt Test Sqn at ASTE, 5 Sqn (Jags), and numerous marquee units/establishments on his way to becoming the Air Chief from 2019 – 2021.
Gp Capt AK Mandokhot from 78 NDA, commissioned in 1991 qualified as a PAI (97), QFI (2000), ETP (2003), and earned his Cat A QFI in 2003. He was the F/L Nachiketa’s wingman during the Kargil war and devoted a large part of his service career to test flying the MiG-27.
Air Cmde DS Dangi was commissioned with 150 PC in 1992 and was the fourth to be QFI, PAI, and ETP. He has commanded a Su-30 unit and was involved in the MiG-27 UPG and Su-30 program as a test pilot as well. He is the only such officer to still be serving.
Gp Capt Badhrish Athreya from 155 PC completes this list. Nicknamed Bads he was Flt Dir Flight Display Director for Aero India 2019 as the Chief Test Pilot of ASTE. A career MiG-29 pilot, He has flown more than 3,200 hours on 25 different types of aircraft & retd in 2019.
Not in the list, but a unique distinction no less, is Air Cmde Ashutosh Lal from 139 PC. He is a Cat A2 QFI, ETP (rotary Wing) and while did not do the HCL course, he commanded the Attack Heptr sqn and was co-opted as Directing Staff at TACDE for the HCL Course!
My sincere apologies if anyone inadvertently was missed in the list. After due inquiry amongst the veteran community and publicly available information, only these 5 officers seem to have achieved this rare distinction.
Originally published on Twitter
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