Friday, January 30, 2009
Daily Daru
these days i am boozing daily. actually we are a great bunch of youngsters in the unit. and we share great bonding. so they are making me practice for my dining out by forcing me to drink daily. tomm is my dining out. hope its good. i got to prepare a speech also. but i am having a great time in the paltan.
Monday, January 19, 2009
yoohoo!! MY First Solo
Col Pandey and Self After the solo . background M1 X-Air Microlight Aircraft at Gaya International Airport with Runway lights On.The First Step
Yoohooo!!! That’s what I yelled when I took my first turn for the crosswind leg during my first solo. The feeling is yet to sink in that I’ve done my first solo flight on a microlight aircraft. This means that I actually took the aircraft up in the sky solo and after completing a ‘circuit’ got the aircraft back and landed safely.
It was a remarkable experience and one of a very unique, rare and exceptional kind. I did it on the 15 Jan 2009 at 1730 h and the day also happens to be the Army Day which makes the occasion even more special. On 14th Jan , our instructor Lt Col A K Pandey told me that I was flying well , and if I could be consistent the next day also , he would consider me for a solo on the 16th.
On the 15th at morning, I didn’t fly well at all had some problems in landings. So I thought it were still few days that I would get my solo. At morning, Col Pandey taught me some emergency procedures and the morning session was called off. At around 1635h he flew me again and took me to Gaya International Airport. There we flew few circuits and he gave me few landing practices and checked my reactions for emergency landings. I had not the slightest bit of hint that I would be getting the most extraordinary experience of my life soon.
It was already getting dark and even the runway lights had come on. Col Pandey then asked me if I would be able to do my solo then. I answered in affirmative and he asked me the same question me a no of times to which my answer was the same. Then he told me that if I could make the next landing good enough then he would send me.
As soon as we landed he said that I was going and asked me to backtrack till the threshold. Then he got down and passed me a few instructions on the radio.
Now I was on my own and it suddenly struck me that I would be up there alone. I had dreamt of this day since a long time and now here was it. I was cleared to takeoff and I gave full throttle and started rolling on the runway. It was a great feeling. I remembered the takeoff procedure and did it. Before I could realise I was up in the air and was cruising at 250 Ft. Then I heard Col Pandey’s voice on the radio and he asked me to keep reporting on the radio. I was doing fine and was gaining height. At 300 Ft , I cut throttle to the required value and told him that I was turning left for the crosswind leg. As the aircraft was now lighter with only one person on board, I was gaining height quicker than I had ever experienced. I cut throttle to make suitable adjustments. Now I realised that I was there all alone and actually doing it myself. It was a great feeling. Soon I turned left for the downwind leg and aligned myself with the given landmark.
Col Pandey then asked me if I was enjoying myself and I said yes which I indeed was.
Then I leveled out at 500 ft and bingo all my parameters were doing perfectly fine. I gave an “All Ops Normal” report on the radio. I saw the point where I did the emergency landing. I kept going ahead maintaing all my parameters. The winds were absolutely calm and I was very comfortable.
Then Col Pandey reminded me of the landmarks which I was not to cross. I acknowledged , gave a call for ‘turning base’ and again turned left for the base leg. Thereafter I cut throttle to lose height to prepare myself for the descent. Then I gave a call for ‘turning finals for runway two eight ’and aligned myself with the runway and took left. Now the most difficult part of landing was ahead of me and I was not going to mess it up at any cost. I cut the throttle to the required value and maintained required heights at the various landmarks. All the time I was repeating and maintaing speed - ball – centre line of the aircraft. Thereafter I started focusing on the landing and carried out the landing. It was a ‘good’ landing as Col Pandey later put it. Thereafter I forgot to cut throttle to zero and Col Pandey reminded me of the same. Then as I was backtracking, he asked me to stop and turn off ignition there itself. I did the same and saw Col Pandey, Col Kaushik and Maj Ranjeev coming towards me. I got down from the aircraft and Col Pandey congratulated me and gave me a bear hug. It was the greatest feeling I had felt in a long time. Then other Officers also congratulated me and I was shivering out of excitement. It was an extraordinary and incredible feeling. I had finally done it. I wasn’t able to contain it and was feeling on top of the world.
It would not have been possible without the constant encouragement and support from my instructor and other course officers. I thank them all and as I write this , my heart is full of gratitude for Col Pandey who took all the efforts to train me to get me to some basic standard in flying.
I wish all of us Happy Landings.
I dedicate my First Solo to
Col Pandey for being the most patient and wonderful instructor and a great and splendid person.
Maj Ranjeev for listening to all my silly doubts and clearing them at all odd times.
Col Kaushik for wishing well for me and encouraging me whenever I was down.
Lt Dinah for always removing any negativity from my mind.
The entire ground crew of AANC, Gaya for keeping the aircrafts in an excellent condition and always giving me small tips and advices.
My parents, relatives and friends for constantly praying and wishing for me.
Swr Avdhesh for being such a great support during the entire course.
Yoohooo!!! That’s what I yelled when I took my first turn for the crosswind leg during my first solo. The feeling is yet to sink in that I’ve done my first solo flight on a microlight aircraft. This means that I actually took the aircraft up in the sky solo and after completing a ‘circuit’ got the aircraft back and landed safely.
It was a remarkable experience and one of a very unique, rare and exceptional kind. I did it on the 15 Jan 2009 at 1730 h and the day also happens to be the Army Day which makes the occasion even more special. On 14th Jan , our instructor Lt Col A K Pandey told me that I was flying well , and if I could be consistent the next day also , he would consider me for a solo on the 16th.
On the 15th at morning, I didn’t fly well at all had some problems in landings. So I thought it were still few days that I would get my solo. At morning, Col Pandey taught me some emergency procedures and the morning session was called off. At around 1635h he flew me again and took me to Gaya International Airport. There we flew few circuits and he gave me few landing practices and checked my reactions for emergency landings. I had not the slightest bit of hint that I would be getting the most extraordinary experience of my life soon.
It was already getting dark and even the runway lights had come on. Col Pandey then asked me if I would be able to do my solo then. I answered in affirmative and he asked me the same question me a no of times to which my answer was the same. Then he told me that if I could make the next landing good enough then he would send me.
As soon as we landed he said that I was going and asked me to backtrack till the threshold. Then he got down and passed me a few instructions on the radio.
Now I was on my own and it suddenly struck me that I would be up there alone. I had dreamt of this day since a long time and now here was it. I was cleared to takeoff and I gave full throttle and started rolling on the runway. It was a great feeling. I remembered the takeoff procedure and did it. Before I could realise I was up in the air and was cruising at 250 Ft. Then I heard Col Pandey’s voice on the radio and he asked me to keep reporting on the radio. I was doing fine and was gaining height. At 300 Ft , I cut throttle to the required value and told him that I was turning left for the crosswind leg. As the aircraft was now lighter with only one person on board, I was gaining height quicker than I had ever experienced. I cut throttle to make suitable adjustments. Now I realised that I was there all alone and actually doing it myself. It was a great feeling. Soon I turned left for the downwind leg and aligned myself with the given landmark.
Col Pandey then asked me if I was enjoying myself and I said yes which I indeed was.
Then I leveled out at 500 ft and bingo all my parameters were doing perfectly fine. I gave an “All Ops Normal” report on the radio. I saw the point where I did the emergency landing. I kept going ahead maintaing all my parameters. The winds were absolutely calm and I was very comfortable.
Then Col Pandey reminded me of the landmarks which I was not to cross. I acknowledged , gave a call for ‘turning base’ and again turned left for the base leg. Thereafter I cut throttle to lose height to prepare myself for the descent. Then I gave a call for ‘turning finals for runway two eight ’and aligned myself with the runway and took left. Now the most difficult part of landing was ahead of me and I was not going to mess it up at any cost. I cut the throttle to the required value and maintained required heights at the various landmarks. All the time I was repeating and maintaing speed - ball – centre line of the aircraft. Thereafter I started focusing on the landing and carried out the landing. It was a ‘good’ landing as Col Pandey later put it. Thereafter I forgot to cut throttle to zero and Col Pandey reminded me of the same. Then as I was backtracking, he asked me to stop and turn off ignition there itself. I did the same and saw Col Pandey, Col Kaushik and Maj Ranjeev coming towards me. I got down from the aircraft and Col Pandey congratulated me and gave me a bear hug. It was the greatest feeling I had felt in a long time. Then other Officers also congratulated me and I was shivering out of excitement. It was an extraordinary and incredible feeling. I had finally done it. I wasn’t able to contain it and was feeling on top of the world.
It would not have been possible without the constant encouragement and support from my instructor and other course officers. I thank them all and as I write this , my heart is full of gratitude for Col Pandey who took all the efforts to train me to get me to some basic standard in flying.
I wish all of us Happy Landings.
I dedicate my First Solo to
Col Pandey for being the most patient and wonderful instructor and a great and splendid person.
Maj Ranjeev for listening to all my silly doubts and clearing them at all odd times.
Col Kaushik for wishing well for me and encouraging me whenever I was down.
Lt Dinah for always removing any negativity from my mind.
The entire ground crew of AANC, Gaya for keeping the aircrafts in an excellent condition and always giving me small tips and advices.
My parents, relatives and friends for constantly praying and wishing for me.
Swr Avdhesh for being such a great support during the entire course.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Pune
after this course i am going to kalimpong for some time and then will be proceeding to Mhow. In the meanwhile i hope to go to pune. I ve to meet few very special people and who are the driving force in my life. Besides, i feel so much at home in the city. I ve already started day- dreaming about my trip. Lots of things to do , and limited time at hand. will have to chalk out an itieranary.
Hope this is a good and refreashing trip before i head for Mhow.
Hope this is a good and refreashing trip before i head for Mhow.
Flying Progress
yesterday i flew better than other days. Hats off to my instructor Lt Col Pandey for bearing with me and having so much of patience. when i kept( still keep) doing mistakes , he just kept(still keeps) giving me another chance. yesterday, i could get a feel of how to land. starting of a new phase in learning.
but today my horoscope in TOI says that i should be not expect immediate results and will have to put in more. Ready for that. No probs. Lets see how the day turns out to be.
but today my horoscope in TOI says that i should be not expect immediate results and will have to put in more. Ready for that. No probs. Lets see how the day turns out to be.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Calling One and All
Today i watched the movie 'A Wednesday'. A very Nice film indeed. Through the means of this blog i wish to invite all u wizards, geeks and the hackers to come forward and contribute your bit to the national security. This is our duty towards our motherland. Today the war is being fought on a different dimension all together and this war uses technology.
India has got the best brains in this world and most of us are working for some other country through some MNC. The security agencies are only able to pool in the second bests.
when such an occurance as 26/11 occurs we all are angry but when it comes to make a sacrifice and contribute to national security, we all back out. This war isn't being fought on any borders. it is being fought in our homes. Let us all fight back and be cyber soldiers.
I know u have it in you. Lets start this movement.
If this blog strikes a chord, pl feel free to get in touch with me. Please prolifirate this blog so that it has a maximum reach.
India has got the best brains in this world and most of us are working for some other country through some MNC. The security agencies are only able to pool in the second bests.
when such an occurance as 26/11 occurs we all are angry but when it comes to make a sacrifice and contribute to national security, we all back out. This war isn't being fought on any borders. it is being fought in our homes. Let us all fight back and be cyber soldiers.
I know u have it in you. Lets start this movement.
If this blog strikes a chord, pl feel free to get in touch with me. Please prolifirate this blog so that it has a maximum reach.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Romancing the cities!!
there have been a no of cities where I ve been to or rather stayed. But there are 4 of them i really love and which make me feel at home. i just love being there and even whenever i am alone and down i open their Maps and traverse on the very familiar roads and paths. Just talking about them is a great stress buster.
Let me break the suspense; they are Delhi, Kolkata,Mumbai,Pune ( In alphabetical order). each of them have got their own charm and culture. Very different from each other but still very likable. Critics may feel free to find a no of faults in each of them but the truth is that all of them in some way define the Great Urban Indian Culture. Delhi is the prime city of North India and is a amalgam of many cultures. u will find the chic, the not so chic , the traditional, and the not so traditional, the rich and the poor, and all seemingly happy.
I Love Mumbai just for the sheer pace of it. Nobody can be seen wasting time and is bound by a routine. Daily commuters using the lifelines of BEST and the local form the main working class. Infact, she's India's most professional city in every way. Busses and trains operate dot on time and a 7:29 local arrives and leaves at precisely that time. the best part about this city is that it never sleeps.
Kolkata is a slow city where the pace of life is quite slow. People have little problem in wasting time by means of traffic jams, stagnant locals and jammed trams. But it has a culture of its own. It has a very rich heritage and this is what i love about the city. Eminent British and Indian personalities with their own claim to fame have resided here. off late, tremendous development has taken place in the way of flyovers, malls, discs and the night life has also considerably improved.
Pune is undoubtedly the Youngest city of India. Courtesy the vast student population pursuing various courses, this city is forever youthful. the general people are also very intelligent and aware. The city can be clearly divided into the regions for the young and the the grownups.
Deccan , FC rd, MG Road are represent the freedom every Indian Urban Youth desires.
A great city to feel young.
Let me break the suspense; they are Delhi, Kolkata,Mumbai,Pune ( In alphabetical order). each of them have got their own charm and culture. Very different from each other but still very likable. Critics may feel free to find a no of faults in each of them but the truth is that all of them in some way define the Great Urban Indian Culture. Delhi is the prime city of North India and is a amalgam of many cultures. u will find the chic, the not so chic , the traditional, and the not so traditional, the rich and the poor, and all seemingly happy.
I Love Mumbai just for the sheer pace of it. Nobody can be seen wasting time and is bound by a routine. Daily commuters using the lifelines of BEST and the local form the main working class. Infact, she's India's most professional city in every way. Busses and trains operate dot on time and a 7:29 local arrives and leaves at precisely that time. the best part about this city is that it never sleeps.
Kolkata is a slow city where the pace of life is quite slow. People have little problem in wasting time by means of traffic jams, stagnant locals and jammed trams. But it has a culture of its own. It has a very rich heritage and this is what i love about the city. Eminent British and Indian personalities with their own claim to fame have resided here. off late, tremendous development has taken place in the way of flyovers, malls, discs and the night life has also considerably improved.
Pune is undoubtedly the Youngest city of India. Courtesy the vast student population pursuing various courses, this city is forever youthful. the general people are also very intelligent and aware. The city can be clearly divided into the regions for the young and the the grownups.
Deccan , FC rd, MG Road are represent the freedom every Indian Urban Youth desires.
A great city to feel young.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Visit to Nalanda
It was a very good experience and the you could still feel the ' charge' of the place seeping in your veins. their we took a guide and he told us about the kind of learning methodology that was being followed some 13 centuries ago. he said that it was based on three sub processes and they were and i quote" Learning, practice and Realisation" all three being equally important and to be strictly followed in sequence.
i think all of us should try to get it into practice.
i think all of us should try to get it into practice.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
For the Indian Soldier
INTERESTING READ. i recd this as an email attachment.
While the average age of the army man is around 30 years, at the time of enrolling / commissioning he is around 19 years.
He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country.
He's a recent school/college graduate; he was probably an average student from one of the Kendriya Vidyalayas, pursued some form of sport activities, rides an old mo'bike / scooter, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.
He listens to bollywood music or ghazals or rock & roll or hip-hop or country or swing … ………. and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 5 or 7 kilos lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting insurgents or standing guard on the icy Himalayas or the jungles of the North East from before dawn to well after dusk or he is in Mumbai engaging the terrorists.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.
He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs trenches and weapon-pits and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. His pride and self-respect, he does not lack. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of combat dress: he washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry... He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humour in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the Jana Gana Mana vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hands from their pockets, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom.
Beardless or not, he is not a boy.
He is your nation's Fighting Man that has kept this country free and defended your right to Freedom.
He has experienced deprivation and adversity, and has seen his buddies falling to bullets and maimed and blown. But, he has asked nothing in return, except our acknowledgement of his existence and understanding of his human needs.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. . .... A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets. Prayer wheel for our military... Please sat this after this short prayer. 'Lord, hold our Indian Armed Forces in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our soldiers, sailors and airmen, on all frontiers and wherever else they are needed. Pray for the Indian Soldier. Unlike your 'Babus' or 'Netas' He will always do you proud.
While the average age of the army man is around 30 years, at the time of enrolling / commissioning he is around 19 years.
He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country.
He's a recent school/college graduate; he was probably an average student from one of the Kendriya Vidyalayas, pursued some form of sport activities, rides an old mo'bike / scooter, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.
He listens to bollywood music or ghazals or rock & roll or hip-hop or country or swing … ………. and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 5 or 7 kilos lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting insurgents or standing guard on the icy Himalayas or the jungles of the North East from before dawn to well after dusk or he is in Mumbai engaging the terrorists.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.
He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs trenches and weapon-pits and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. His pride and self-respect, he does not lack. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of combat dress: he washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry... He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humour in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the Jana Gana Mana vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hands from their pockets, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom.
Beardless or not, he is not a boy.
He is your nation's Fighting Man that has kept this country free and defended your right to Freedom.
He has experienced deprivation and adversity, and has seen his buddies falling to bullets and maimed and blown. But, he has asked nothing in return, except our acknowledgement of his existence and understanding of his human needs.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. . .... A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets. Prayer wheel for our military... Please sat this after this short prayer. 'Lord, hold our Indian Armed Forces in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our soldiers, sailors and airmen, on all frontiers and wherever else they are needed. Pray for the Indian Soldier. Unlike your 'Babus' or 'Netas' He will always do you proud.
A time for introspection and retrospection
today is the first day of a new yr. amidst all the celebrations its the time for introspection and retrospection. like an accountant work out your 'credits' and 'debits' of the balancesheet of your life. whatever u have done wrong, whatever u didn't want to do, missed opportunities, right decisions, achievements , accomplishments, work left to be completed et al. this yr dont lose focus from ur aim.
Also and more importartantly, have a life. see what is it that u are running after. ask urself, if this is worth spending ur precious golden period. and if ur answer is yes, then go all out for it , full throttle. but if the answer is no, tis the time to rework ur priorities. stay close to ur family and relatives. they are the ones who will bail u out in any crisis.
And lastly , live life king(or queen as the case may be)size. live in the present and stay cheerful , healthy , wealthy and wise.
my best wishes.
Also and more importartantly, have a life. see what is it that u are running after. ask urself, if this is worth spending ur precious golden period. and if ur answer is yes, then go all out for it , full throttle. but if the answer is no, tis the time to rework ur priorities. stay close to ur family and relatives. they are the ones who will bail u out in any crisis.
And lastly , live life king(or queen as the case may be)size. live in the present and stay cheerful , healthy , wealthy and wise.
my best wishes.
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