Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completes final IAF flight with original instructor

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the Chief of the Air Staff, completed his final flying sortie for the Indian Air Force on Tuesday in Telangana. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the IAF Chief flew a Kiran basic trainer aircraft, the same platform he used for his maiden flight on January 28, 1984. The flight took place at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, where he first learned to fly over four decades ago.

Seated in the cockpit alongside the Air Chief was Wing Commander V.S. Kochar (Retired), his original flying instructor. The Hindu BusinessLine reported that Kochar, now 73, described the experience as a special opportunity to fly once more with his former student. The sortie lasted 55 minutes, marking a symbolic conclusion to Singh’s career in the service.

After landing, Singh told reporters that the moment felt like a dream come true. He noted that he believed he was the only Chief of the Air Staff retiring while the basic aircraft he first flew remained in active service. The Hindu BusinessLine quoted him as saying, "I started my journey with the same aircraft." He expressed gratitude to Kochar for teaching him to fly at the same location where he completed his final flight.

Wing Commander Kochar recalled Singh as his brightest pupil. The retired instructor stated that getting another trip with his former student was a personal dream fulfilled. He described Singh as a standout individual, emphasizing the pride of seeing his student rise to the top of the Air Force hierarchy.

Singh is scheduled to demit his office on October 31. The Hindu BusinessLine noted that he has been actively flying in his final weeks in command. Recently, he flew an indigenous LCA Tejas fighter jet during the multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti at Jodhpur. The IAF released a video of that sortie on October 12, describing it as reflecting the spirit of a fighter pilot who leads from the front.

The Air Chief’s tenure has also been marked by public comments on aircraft production. The Hindu BusinessLine highlighted his remarks regarding Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s delivery timelines for the LCA Tejas Mk-1A. In February 2025, Singh described himself as not confident in HAL’s production schedule, an exchange he later clarified as a friendly talk that was inappropriately leaked to the media.