Mumbai: For the Varthamans, flying the MiG-21 fighter aircraft is a sort of family tradition.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman downed a Pakistani F-16 plane before his MiG-21 Bison was hit during a dogfight. His father Air Marshal (retd) Simhakutty Varthaman also flew the MiG-21s and was an IAF test pilot, who retired five years ago, family friend Wing Commander (retd) Prakash Navale said here Friday. He stated that Abhinandan’s grandfather was also in the IAF.
It must be stated here that in 1982, Navale, then Flight Lieutenant, was awarded the ‘’Shaurya Chakra’ for saving the life of then Odisha Chief Minister JB Patnaik from mob fury in Gopalpur.
Navale, who was a course-mate of Abhinandan’s father at the National Defence Academy (NDA) during 1969-72, said the first time he saw the young pilot was when he was a three-year-old toddler.
“Myself and his father were then posted at the fighter training wing at Hakimpet, Hyderabad,” said Navale, 66, who retired from the IAF in 1994 and now lives in Navi Mumbai.
“Initially, I also passed out (from Air Force Academy) as a fighter pilot but later switched to helicopters. Myself and Air Marshal (retd) Varthaman were flying instructors for some time,” he said.
Navale said Air Marshal Varthaman was staying at Tambaram when he was doing the flying instructor’s course there. “The Varthamans are very simple people and we have enjoyed many a hearty meal at their house,” Navale informed.
“He (Varthaman) is a through gentleman. His wife Shobha, a doctor, is a great lady. When my wife Aruna was pregnant, she used to visit us regularly and administer injections to her. We were blessed with our daughter Pooja due to Shobha’s medical care,” Navale reminisced.
PTI