New Delhi: Six days before the government officially announces a Vir Chakra for Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot received better news on Thursday. After a series of tests, Varthaman has been found medically fit to fly a fighter plane again, say sources.
Currently posted at the Suratgarh air base in Rajasthan , Varthaman is in charge of administrative duties. According to sources, he will start flying the Mig-21 soon. Varthaman will undergo a final medical test at the Bengaluru-based Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Sources say he is likely to pass with flying colours.
Varthaman became an aviation legend when he downed a Pakistani F-16 with his vintage Mig-21 Bison on February 27 — that is a bit like a Maruti 800 outracing a Mercedes-Benz. His aircraft was subsequently shot down and Varthaman taken a prisoner of war (POW) by Pakistan.
An ejection is never easy on a fight pilot. Even with a safe ejection, a spinal injury is a given — Varthaman also suffered it. Also, given his trauma of being in Pakistani captivity, he had to undergo a series of psychological tests and multiple debriefs.
Grounded for the last six months, Varthaman had to get back to being A1G1, a fitness level all fighter pilots are expected to maintain. He is likely to be back in the cockpit by the end of August, with his Vir Chakra proudly pinned to his uniform. The Vir Chakra is India's third highest war time gallantry award. As is tradition, the official announcement will be made on August 14, a day ahead of Independence Day.
08/08/19 Shreya Dhoundal/CNN-News18
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Currently posted at the Suratgarh air base in Rajasthan , Varthaman is in charge of administrative duties. According to sources, he will start flying the Mig-21 soon. Varthaman will undergo a final medical test at the Bengaluru-based Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Sources say he is likely to pass with flying colours.
Varthaman became an aviation legend when he downed a Pakistani F-16 with his vintage Mig-21 Bison on February 27 — that is a bit like a Maruti 800 outracing a Mercedes-Benz. His aircraft was subsequently shot down and Varthaman taken a prisoner of war (POW) by Pakistan.
An ejection is never easy on a fight pilot. Even with a safe ejection, a spinal injury is a given — Varthaman also suffered it. Also, given his trauma of being in Pakistani captivity, he had to undergo a series of psychological tests and multiple debriefs.
Grounded for the last six months, Varthaman had to get back to being A1G1, a fitness level all fighter pilots are expected to maintain. He is likely to be back in the cockpit by the end of August, with his Vir Chakra proudly pinned to his uniform. The Vir Chakra is India's third highest war time gallantry award. As is tradition, the official announcement will be made on August 14, a day ahead of Independence Day.
08/08/19 Shreya Dhoundal/CNN-News18
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