From the pen of the Founding Editor of ‘The Miracle. Excerpt from the book ‘The Last Salute’
Academy days were the golden days of dreams and ambitions. We enjoyed the never ending ragging, guard duties and continuous bullshitting by our seniors. Some of us ended in BFT hoping to fly the noisy jet T-37 aircraft. Most of the early days of BFT saw us aspiring pilots running like crazy around the squadron wearing flying coveralls and thick heavy flying shoes. The dream of becoming a fighter pilot was turning into a mirage. A normal day started with tortuous emergency sessions and ended with angry dialogues with our instructors. Finally our flying started and there was respite from the running and ragging. Flight Lieutenant Arif, who later rose to the rank of Air Marshall, was the Flight Commander of No 2. Squdron, his amazing character and hefty personality with unlimited energy was often seen moving around the squadron and the flight lines. It was not uncommon to see the broad, heavily built man lumbering onto the tarmac and chasing the aircraft technicians. His main concern was to have a maximum number of T-37s serviceable. Risalpur’s hot summers or cold frosty winter mornings never deterred him from being on the tarmac ensuring availability of maximum aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Arif had a habit of conducting debriefings of missions in the main briefing room. He also ensured that all cadets lounging or sleeping in the changing room attended his debrief sessions. He mistakenly thought that his long debriefs would enlighten the cadets and be helpful in flying. One day he took Flight Cadet Azam, our course mate, for his solo check clearance. On that day, some of the not flying students were forced into the briefing room. We had to listen to Azam’s debriefing session conducted by Flight Lieutenant Arif. Unfortunately, for Azam, the mission had not gone well. Flight Lieutenant Arif was fuming and the briefing room was sounding with a mixture of flowery Urdu and English jargon. It was a sight to watch the broad chest instructor bellowing at full voice and a dejected skinny Azam standing miserably, trying in vain to create an impression that he was understanding the debrief. Finally towards the end the instructor repeatedly asked Azam “Why were you getting low on the final approach?” One must understand that a student has no logical explanation for ‘why.’ Azam was terror stricken and desperately searched for an answer but he could not find a suitable reply. Arif was determined and clearly didn’t want to leave Azam without justifying his poor performance. Finally, mustering all his courage, Azam blurted out, “Sir, the aircraft was heavy today.” There was a deathly silence in the room. His response pointed to fat body of Arif. It shocked us and left Flight Lieutenant Arif speechless. He looked incredulously at Azam and we could feel that, had he not been in uniform, he would have strangled Azam. It ended the debriefing session and we hurriedly followed his order of getting in the orbit – running around the block with hands above the head. Later we asked Azam why he had replied in that manner. His innocent answer was that with Flight Lieutenant Arif in the seat the aircraft had to be heavy. But, the good part was that for next few days we were spared the debriefing sessions of Flight Lieutenant
Arif. This anecdote of our cadetship flying days was reminded by Yawar Kamal. He retired after becoming a fighter pilot and reaching the rank of Squadron Leader. Yawar is a star captain flying the Airbus aircraft. Azam also graduated as a fighter pilot and left the service after becoming a Wing Commander. He practices Law in Rawalpindi. Arif retired after rising to the rank of Air Marshal.