Even as the Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor took to the skies from the Yelahanka Air Force Station on Saturday, spectators were taken aback when they saw the Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the air show.
Even though Dhoni did not fly any metal birds, he enjoyed sitting inside the light combat helicopter (LCH) cockpit during the afternoon show. HAL pilots accompanied Dhoni and explained the capabilities of the flying birds, which will soon be inducted into the armed forces, to the cricket team captain. Before Dhoni could wind up his tour, he took a look at the newly inducted transport aircraft of the IAF, the C130J.
Unlike other advance light helicopters, the LCH is a fully-loaded prototype that can bomb enemy territories and can make a quick return to the base; its manoeuvrability and speed has been proven during the air show. When the officials of the IAF were asked if Dhoni expressed an interest in flying one of the machines, the officials said that there was no request from the Indian captain to fly the LCH but he did express an interest to co-pilot the same once it is ready for flying.
“The LCH was operated in a public show for the first time and is yet to receive an operational clearance. Once the LCH receives the final operational clearance (FOC), we could facilitate Dhoni’s request to fly in the same. In fact, it’s a win-win situation for the flyer and the IAF since it will attract several young people to join the Armed forces,” said an IAF official.
He added that, “Cricketers like Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar (who was recently honoured by the IAF with the designation of group captain rank) who know how to fly a plane will undoubtedly inspire young people to join the Air Force. They (Sachin and Dhoni) are as patriotic as any pilot and it’s an honour for us to make them fly.
In fact, Tendulkar will soon fly a SU 30 at the Pune Air Base.”
Meanwhile, the officials from Lockheed Martin, the makers the F-16 fighter plane, clarified that Mr Dhoni did not express a request to fly in a F-16.
“We got several inquires asking why the request from the Indian captain was turned down but we have not received any such request,” said an official.