Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh completed his final flying sortie in an Indian Air Force aircraft on October 20, 2026, marking an emotional milestone in his flying career. He flew the HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer aircraft alongside his first flying instructor, retired Wing Commander V. S. Kochar, at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Telangana.
The 55-minute flight was particularly meaningful because Singh began his flying journey in the same type of aircraft with the same instructor on January 28, 1984. More than four decades later, the two reunited for his final flight in uniform.
Singh described the experience as a dream come true, saying he wanted to bring his flying journey full circle. The Indian Air Force also acknowledged the occasion as the conclusion of a significant chapter in the career of its chief.
Why Was AP Singh’s Final Flight Special?
The final sortie was more than a routine flight. It connected the beginning and end of an important part of Air Chief Marshal AP Singh’s professional life.
Singh first flew the Kiran trainer aircraft with Wing Commander V. S. Kochar at the Air Force Academy in January 1984. On October 20, 2026, he returned to the same training environment to fly the same aircraft type with his former instructor.
The aircraft used for the sortie carried the tail number U-707.
After landing, Singh explained that flying the aircraft again with the instructor who taught him the basics was a memorable experience. He expressed gratitude to Kochar for guiding him during the early stages of his flying career.
The reunion also highlighted the lasting relationship between flying instructors and their students in the Indian Air Force. Training relationships can continue to hold significance long after pilots progress to operational aircraft and senior leadership roles.
What Did Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Say After the Flight?
Singh described the experience as being like a dream coming true. He explained that he had started his flying journey in the Kiran aircraft and wanted to complete the journey with the same aircraft.
He also observed that he might be the only chief retiring while the basic aircraft he had initially flown remained in service.
Singh thanked his former instructor for teaching him to fly at the Air Force Academy. His remarks reflected the personal importance of returning to the place where his flying career began.
The flight was a reminder that behind a senior military position is a long professional journey involving training, discipline, mentorship and operational experience.
Who Is Wing Commander V. S. Kochar?
Retired Wing Commander V. S. Kochar was Singh’s first flying instructor and played an important role in his early training.
Kochar accompanied Singh during the final Kiran sortie, creating a direct connection between the Air Chief’s first flight and his last flight in uniform.
Speaking after the sortie, Kochar described Singh as an exceptionally promising student. He also said that getting another opportunity to fly with his former student was a dream come true for him.
At 73, Kochar considered the experience particularly special.
Their reunion highlighted the contribution of flying instructors, who help pilots develop the technical skills, confidence and discipline required for military aviation.
What Is the HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 Trainer Aircraft?
The HJT-16 Kiran is an Indian jet trainer aircraft developed for military flying training. It has been associated with the training of generations of Indian Air Force pilots.
Trainer aircraft help pilots develop essential flying skills before they move on to more advanced aircraft. Training involves learning aircraft handling, navigation, flight procedures and other skills required for military aviation.
The Kiran therefore has a special place in the history of Indian military aviation. Its association with pilot training makes it particularly significant that Singh began his flying journey in this aircraft and returned to it for his final sortie in uniform.
The aircraft used for the October 20 flight was a Kiran Mk-1 bearing tail number U-707.
AP Singh’s Last Flight in Uniform: Key Details
Here are the main facts about the final sortie:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Air Chief | Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh |
| Aircraft | HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 |
| Flight duration | 55 minutes |
| Location | Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Telangana |
| Flying instructor | Retired Wing Commander V. S. Kochar |
| Aircraft tail number | U-707 |
| First flight with Kochar | January 28, 1984 |
| Final sortie date | October 20, 2026 |
| Scheduled retirement | October 31, 2026 |
The sortie took place shortly before Singh’s scheduled retirement from service at the end of October.
AP Singh Had Already Completed His Last Fighter Jet Sortie
The Kiran flight followed another milestone earlier in October.
On October 12, 2026, Singh completed his final fighter jet sortie aboard the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas during Exercise Tarang Shakti at Jodhpur Air Force Station.
That flight marked the end of his flying career in fighter aircraft. The Kiran sortie on October 20 then concluded his final flying chapter in an Indian Air Force aircraft while in uniform.
The two flights were distinct events. The Tejas sortie was his final fighter aircraft flight, while the Kiran flight was his final sortie in an IAF aircraft.
Together, they marked the closing stages of a flying career shaped by different aircraft, training experiences and operational responsibilities.
When Will Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Retire?
Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh is scheduled to retire on October 31, 2026.
His final Kiran sortie took place 11 days before that date. The flight was therefore a milestone in his flying career ahead of his scheduled retirement from service.
The event does not mean that he retired on October 20. Instead, it marked the end of his flying sorties in uniform before his scheduled superannuation.
His career has included extensive flying experience and senior responsibilities within the Indian Air Force. The final flight offered a personal moment of reflection as he approached the end of his tenure.
What Did the Indian Air Force Say About the Final Sortie?
The Indian Air Force described the flight as the completion of a distinguished chapter in Singh’s flying career.
It noted that he would carry forward the experience, discipline and commitment that had defined his association with the service.
The occasion also served as a tribute to the traditions of flying training and the role of instructors in developing generations of air warriors.
For Singh, returning to the Kiran aircraft was a way to acknowledge the beginning of his career. For the Air Force, the sortie represented a meaningful moment in the professional journey of its serving chief.
Conclusion
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh’s final flight in the HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 was a memorable moment ahead of his scheduled retirement on October 31, 2026.
Flying alongside his first instructor, retired Wing Commander V. S. Kochar, Singh revisited the aircraft and training environment where his flying journey began in January 1984.
The 55-minute sortie brought together memories of his first flight, his professional development and the closing chapter of his flying career. It also highlighted the lasting importance of instructors in military aviation.
Following his final fighter jet sortie in the Tejas on October 12, the Kiran flight on October 20 marked his final sortie in an Indian Air Force aircraft while in uniform.
The occasion was a fitting reminder of the connection between a pilot, a mentor and the aircraft that helped launch a lifelong journey in aviation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When did Air Chief Marshal AP Singh take his final flight in uniform?
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completed his final flying sortie in an Indian Air Force aircraft on October 20, 2026.
2. Which aircraft did AP Singh fly for his final sortie?
He flew the HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer aircraft, bearing tail number U-707.
3. Who accompanied AP Singh on his final flight?
He flew with retired Wing Commander V. S. Kochar, his first flying instructor.
4. How long was AP Singh’s final flight?
The final sortie lasted approximately 55 minutes.
5. When did AP Singh take his first flight with Wing Commander Kochar?
Singh took his first flight with Kochar in a Kiran aircraft on January 28, 1984, at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal.
6. When did AP Singh fly his last fighter jet sortie?
He completed his final fighter jet sortie in the indigenous LCA Tejas on October 12, 2026, during Exercise Tarang Shakti at Jodhpur Air Force Station.
7. When is Air Chief Marshal AP Singh scheduled to retire?
He is scheduled to retire on October 31, 2026.
8. Why was the Kiran aircraft important to AP Singh?
The Kiran was the aircraft in which Singh began his flying journey. Returning to the same aircraft type with his first instructor allowed him to mark the end of his flying career in uniform in a personally meaningful way.
