Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completed his final flying sortie in an Indian Air Force aircraft on Tuesday, taking to the skies in the HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer aircraft. The 55-minute flight held special significance for the Air Chief, who said he wanted the circle to be complete by flying the aircraft that first introduced him to the skies. The sortie was particularly memorable because Singh flew alongside his first flying instructor. The occasion brought together the beginning and culmination of his flying journey, making the flight more than a routine appearance in an aircraft. Singh’s choice of the Kiran trainer reflected his connection with the aircraft in which he began developing his flying skills during his early training.

The HJT-16 Kiran is an Indian-built jet trainer aircraft used by the Indian Air Force to train pilots. Trainer aircraft play an important role in preparing aircrew for more advanced flying, allowing pilots to develop the skills and discipline required before progressing to operational aircraft. For Singh, the Kiran had personal significance because it was the first aircraft that gave him the experience of flying. Speaking about the sortie, Singh explained that he wanted to complete the circle by returning to the aircraft that had introduced him to flying. His remarks highlighted the personal meaning behind the choice of aircraft for his final sortie. Flying with his first instructor added another connection to the early stages of his career, linking his training days with the conclusion of this chapter of his flying journey.

The 55-minute sortie took place on Tuesday and marked Singh’s final flight in an IAF aircraft in his capacity as Chief of the Air Staff, according to the information provided. The occasion was documented in a video, with the event drawing attention to the Air Chief’s long association with military aviation. No further details about the flight route or specific manoeuvres performed during the sortie were available. Singh’s choice of the Kiran also underscored the importance of training in a military pilot’s career. Before taking on operational responsibilities, pilots undergo extensive instruction and practice to build the technical ability, situational awareness and confidence needed to fly military aircraft. The instructors who guide them during this period can have a lasting influence on their professional development.

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The presence of Singh’s first flying instructor made the occasion especially meaningful. The instructor had been part of the Air Chief’s early flying experience, and their participation in the final sortie created a direct link between the beginning of his aviation career and this concluding flight. Singh’s comment about completing the circle reflected that connection. The Indian Air Force relies on a structured training system to prepare pilots for increasingly complex aircraft and operational duties. Trainer aircraft such as the Kiran form part of the process through which pilots learn fundamental flying techniques before advancing to more sophisticated platforms. The aircraft therefore represents an important stage in the development of military aviators.

For Singh, the sortie was both a professional milestone and a personal moment of reflection. Returning to the Kiran allowed him to revisit the aircraft that first introduced him to flying, while sharing the flight with his first instructor made the occasion more significant. His remarks emphasised the continuity between his early training and his years of service in the Indian Air Force. The final sortie marks a memorable moment in Singh’s association with military aviation. By choosing the Kiran Mk-1 for the 55-minute flight, the Air Chief revisited the aircraft that began his flying journey and brought that experience to a close in the presence of the instructor who first guided him. The occasion offered a glimpse into the personal milestones that remain important even after years of professional service at the highest levels of the Air Force.

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