AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 129 of 237 and make them into well heeled dogs, the ones without the ability to bark or bite. The military had lost the power to even walk outside the HQ to buy a self inking rubber stamp for themselves from the pavement shop without asking the permission of the faceless GOI. After I retired, my wife finally went back to work for the Govt. Now and then I sleep with GOI. So, now and then I am not too sure about ‘Them’ and ‘Us’, they have quite morphed and merged in my mind. Now and then I take ‘Panga’ with my GOI, if she objects and issues Gazette notifications to my regular quota of 180 ml Rum every evening. But like a soul mate from Babudom, she says, ‘bloody man do it only now and then’. These days the Babudom is kind and gracious, now and then." About the Author Wing Commander (Retd) Unni Kartha is an accomplished former TEST PILOT and AIRCRAFT ENGINEER, a rare combination, he has been instrumental in testing virtually every aircraft that has been put into service in the Indian Airforce and those yet to join service. Wg Cdr Unni Kartha retired from Indian Air Force (IAF), as Deputy Director ‘Air Staff Requirements’ Air HQ, in charge of strategic long term planning of IAF modernisation requirements in 1994. He is a graduate experimental test pilot from EPNER–France, ‘Member Of Société Constructeur L’ Aéronautique Français’, a ‘Qualified Flying Instructor on fixed wing and helicopters. As ‘Senior Test Pilot’ and ‘Project Manager’ in Aircraft System Testing Establishment (ASTE) of Indian Air Force, he was involved in ‘Make In India’ R&D projects related to aerospace activities of satellite navigation & communication systems, engines, weapons, aircraft, helicopters, drones, missiles, automation and control systems etc. He raised, commanded, and wrote operational doctrines for employment of front line Mi-35 Attack Helicopters in IAF. He has flown around 10,000 hrs on 27 types of aircraft & helicopters and held an ALTP for fixed wing & helicopters issued by DGCA. He is a post graduate aerospace design engineer accredited as a ‘Faculty Member’ of the ‘Aeronautic Society Of India’ (FMAeSI). He is also a MBA (IIM-A). He has vast entrepreneurial and Managerial experience in some of the most renowned Ventures in India and abroad. He is also a member of the prestigious AOPA, GOPA and ICGOPA associations with a lot of passion in promoting Aviation and flying.