Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Completes Final IAF Flying Sortie, Brings 42-Year Journey Full Circle

New Delhi, October 20, 2026: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completed his final flying sortie in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft on October 20, flying the iconic HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer and marking the culmination of a distinguished chapter in his flying career.The 55-minute sortie carried special emotional significance as he flew alongside his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V. S. Kochar (Retd), in aircraft bearing tail number U-707. The flight reunited the two airmen whose association began during the early stages of the Chief’s aviation journey.Air Chief Marshal Singh undertook his first-ever flying sortie on January 28, 1984. More than four decades later, returning to the Kiran trainer brought his flying journey in the IAF full circle.The occasion highlighted the enduring contribution of flying instructors, whose mentorship, discipline and expertise shape generations of Indian air warriors. The Kiran Mk-1, a longstanding symbol of the IAF’s flying-training tradition, added further significance to the milestone.The final sortie marked the close of a memorable chapter defined by dedication, professionalism and a lifelong commitment to military aviation, while honouring the bond between instructor and student that remains central to the IAF’s training ethos.