Col. Vishwanath is very uneasy as he is waiting in the corridor. Uneasiness is a quite strange effect for this man. He is always so sure of his actions with a supreme confidence in his abilities.
Col. Vishwananth wanted to fly ever since he saw the first fighter plane during an air show. The ambition drove him to excel in school and to gain selection into the National Defense Academy. As a graduating officer he got the choice of service - Royal Cochin Air Force.
At the Air Force Academy again he came within the top 5% and qualified for fighter training. His flying career started in the Marut Jet trainers followed by service in a Mig29 regiment. He was a natural aviator with an impeccable situational awareness, eagle eye vision and quick reflexes. After 3 years in Mig29s he was assigned to the RF08 JM1 regiment. His excellent service records and flying skills soon made him a Squad Leader in the regiment.
After that followed a spell of non combat assignments. He volunteered to be a test pilot for the JM2 program. Only the brightest, smartest and craziest of aviators volunteer to be a test pilot. While testing the thrills and joys of a prototype Vishwanath thoroughly enjoyed himself. Once during a flight test Vishwanathan's JM2 developed an engine failure and he had to eject. He parachuted down to a rocky field and his leg was fractured. The injury kept him out from active flying for 3 months.
But Vishwanathan took the convalescing time to certify himself on other aircraft types in RCAF. He took the time to certify for the biggest plane itself, the Halob. The quick learner that he was cleared all theoretical papers and laboratory works for Halob certification and once he regained his flight status he qualified for Halob flight. So when Maj. Vishwanath rejoined full service with RCAF he was a qualified pilot in Halob and JM1.
After another short stint in the RF08 regiment Lt. Col. Vishwanath was selected for staffing the newly formed Jadayu Mk. II regiments. He was assigned to the RF37 regiment as a Squad Leader. A year of service found him promoted to the rank of Colonel and the job of a Squadron Leader in RF37.
Now he was in the running for the job of a Regimental Commander with the rank of a Brigadier General. This was the tricky phase in any service officer's career. Far too many good men for far too less good jobs.
And now he was being called before Air Vice Marshal Praveen Kumar, the Commander of Royal Cochin Air Force.
After a seemingly long wait in the corridor he was summoned to the office of the CFO.
"Good morning Col. Vishwanath. I have heard a lot of good things about you." AVM Praveen Kumar said. Behind him a JM1 was lifting off from the Executive Air Field in Cochin City.
"Thank You, Sir." Col. Vishwanath said apprehensively. The AVM was reading through his personnel jacket, something that always brings out jitters in a military personnel.
"I see that you are qualified in Mig29, Jadayu Mk.I, Jadayu Mk.II and also Halob? You have also been a test pilot, right?"
"Yes Sir."
"Why Halob, Vishwanath? You are a career fighter pilot. Why try out on a transport aircraft, a trash hauler?"
"Sir, while I was grounded after my accident I wanted to try out something different. Halob was simply the most different aircraft I have seen from Jadayus. Also they are the biggest planes in RCAF."
"I see. Interesting. You must be wondering why you have been called before me, right?"
"Yes, Sir." Now Vishwanath was truly perplexed.
"The Kingdom has a new and secretive project. It is purely voluntary. You have been found to be the most qualified for this mission. This project would entail great personal risk. We cannot even assure your survival in this Project. Hell, we cannot even guarantee that your remains would be interred if things go awry. However the scope of this Project would ensure that your name would remain immortal in the annals of history, come success or failure. " Praveen Kumar said.
The Colonel sat tight waiting to hear more.
"Colonel, what I am going to tell you does not leave this room, whether you choose to accept the duty or not. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good. The Kingdom is developing a manned Space Shuttle program for manned exploration of space. The spacecraft has been validated. Now we need the crew for it. You are the best aviator in Royal Cochin Air Force. I know it, and I think you know it too. We want you to be the pilot of this space craft."
Vishwanath could not believe his ears. Was his greatest dream going to come true? To Space? He had reached the fringes of near space on rare sojourns to outer atmosphere while testing the limits of his aircraft. But a travel into outer space?
"Sir, where do I sign up?"
"I see you are already enthusiastic about this. However I must warn you you shall be subjected to a great many rigorous tests and would be living in a totally different lifestyle from now on. You also may not be allowed to do ANY sort of flying for quite some time. And as I said there is no guarantee for your life."
"Sir, I am ready for it. Where do I sign up?"
Col. Vishwananth wanted to fly ever since he saw the first fighter plane during an air show. The ambition drove him to excel in school and to gain selection into the National Defense Academy. As a graduating officer he got the choice of service - Royal Cochin Air Force.
At the Air Force Academy again he came within the top 5% and qualified for fighter training. His flying career started in the Marut Jet trainers followed by service in a Mig29 regiment. He was a natural aviator with an impeccable situational awareness, eagle eye vision and quick reflexes. After 3 years in Mig29s he was assigned to the RF08 JM1 regiment. His excellent service records and flying skills soon made him a Squad Leader in the regiment.
After that followed a spell of non combat assignments. He volunteered to be a test pilot for the JM2 program. Only the brightest, smartest and craziest of aviators volunteer to be a test pilot. While testing the thrills and joys of a prototype Vishwanath thoroughly enjoyed himself. Once during a flight test Vishwanathan's JM2 developed an engine failure and he had to eject. He parachuted down to a rocky field and his leg was fractured. The injury kept him out from active flying for 3 months.
But Vishwanathan took the convalescing time to certify himself on other aircraft types in RCAF. He took the time to certify for the biggest plane itself, the Halob. The quick learner that he was cleared all theoretical papers and laboratory works for Halob certification and once he regained his flight status he qualified for Halob flight. So when Maj. Vishwanath rejoined full service with RCAF he was a qualified pilot in Halob and JM1.
After another short stint in the RF08 regiment Lt. Col. Vishwanath was selected for staffing the newly formed Jadayu Mk. II regiments. He was assigned to the RF37 regiment as a Squad Leader. A year of service found him promoted to the rank of Colonel and the job of a Squadron Leader in RF37.
Now he was in the running for the job of a Regimental Commander with the rank of a Brigadier General. This was the tricky phase in any service officer's career. Far too many good men for far too less good jobs.
And now he was being called before Air Vice Marshal Praveen Kumar, the Commander of Royal Cochin Air Force.
After a seemingly long wait in the corridor he was summoned to the office of the CFO.
"Good morning Col. Vishwanath. I have heard a lot of good things about you." AVM Praveen Kumar said. Behind him a JM1 was lifting off from the Executive Air Field in Cochin City.
"Thank You, Sir." Col. Vishwanath said apprehensively. The AVM was reading through his personnel jacket, something that always brings out jitters in a military personnel.
"I see that you are qualified in Mig29, Jadayu Mk.I, Jadayu Mk.II and also Halob? You have also been a test pilot, right?"
"Yes Sir."
"Why Halob, Vishwanath? You are a career fighter pilot. Why try out on a transport aircraft, a trash hauler?"
"Sir, while I was grounded after my accident I wanted to try out something different. Halob was simply the most different aircraft I have seen from Jadayus. Also they are the biggest planes in RCAF."
"I see. Interesting. You must be wondering why you have been called before me, right?"
"Yes, Sir." Now Vishwanath was truly perplexed.
"The Kingdom has a new and secretive project. It is purely voluntary. You have been found to be the most qualified for this mission. This project would entail great personal risk. We cannot even assure your survival in this Project. Hell, we cannot even guarantee that your remains would be interred if things go awry. However the scope of this Project would ensure that your name would remain immortal in the annals of history, come success or failure. " Praveen Kumar said.
The Colonel sat tight waiting to hear more.
"Colonel, what I am going to tell you does not leave this room, whether you choose to accept the duty or not. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good. The Kingdom is developing a manned Space Shuttle program for manned exploration of space. The spacecraft has been validated. Now we need the crew for it. You are the best aviator in Royal Cochin Air Force. I know it, and I think you know it too. We want you to be the pilot of this space craft."
Vishwanath could not believe his ears. Was his greatest dream going to come true? To Space? He had reached the fringes of near space on rare sojourns to outer atmosphere while testing the limits of his aircraft. But a travel into outer space?
"Sir, where do I sign up?"
"I see you are already enthusiastic about this. However I must warn you you shall be subjected to a great many rigorous tests and would be living in a totally different lifestyle from now on. You also may not be allowed to do ANY sort of flying for quite some time. And as I said there is no guarantee for your life."
"Sir, I am ready for it. Where do I sign up?"
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