IAF Unplugged | The Making of a Pilot | Episode 3

In this episode of IAF Unplugged, we sit down with three serving Officers from the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force, each flying a completely different kind of machine, a fighter jet, a helicopter, and a transport aircraft. Wing Commander Himanshu Sharma pilots the ALH Mk III, an indigenous multi-role helicopter, with close to 3000 hours of flying experience including high-altitude HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) missions. Flight Lieutenant Punya Nanjappa, a MiG-29UPG fighter pilot who takes us through G-force training, close combat sorties, live missile firing, and what it's really like flying at 1.6 Mach. Flight Lieutenant Alhad Desai flies the C-130J, and shares stories ranging from mid-air organ transplant missions to landing at the world's highest Advanced Landing Grounds and rescuing the Indian diaspora from conflict zones abroad. Together, they open up about their journey into the Air Force, life at NDA and Air Force Academy, cracking the AFSB, choosing between fighters, helicopters and transport, G-suits and the 9G Club, simulator training, mid-air refuelling, crew resource management, and what it really takes to become an IAF pilot. Whether you're an aspirant preparing for AFCAT or just curious about military aviation, this episode gives you an unfiltered, first-hand look at life as an IAF pilot. Got questions for our Officers? Drop them in the comments and we'll try to get them answered! 0:00 Intro & Meet the Officers 1:02 Why the Air Force, Why the Flying Branch 4:15 NCC and the Path to Selection 7:18 The Five-Attempt SSB Journey 8:31 Life at Air Force Academy vs NDA 13:26 How Pilots Choose Their Stream 17:44 Learning to Fly: Pilatus, Kiran, Hawk, Chetak 22:03 Top Gun or Discipline? Life Inside a Fighter Cockpit 23:07 Single-Seat vs Multi-Crew Cockpits 24:02 Aircraft Specs: Weight, Fuel & Endurance 25:46 Landing in Rough Terrain & High-Altitude Airfields 30:07 The Beauty of Flying & Formation Sorties 31:34 G-Forces, G-Suits & the 9G Club 33:17 Discipline, Safety Checks & Annual Exams 34:24 Crew Resource Management (CRM) Explained 36:49 Simulator Training vs Real Flying 39:42 Total Flying Hours & Sortie Breakdown 41:02 Simulated Aerial Combat & "Taking Kills" 42:54 Firing a Real Missile in Air 46:00 Staying in Touch with Family During Missions 47:01 Operational Risk Management Explained 48:58 Long-Haul C-130 Flights: Food, Rest & Comfort 50:23 Mid-Air Refuelling Explained 54:42 HADR: The Manali-Leh Highway Rescue 57:26 How Helicopters Fly at Extreme Altitude 59:34 The Narmada Flood Rescue Mission 1:01:05 C-130 Rescue Abroad & the Mid-Air Organ Transplant 1:03:20 Window of Circadian Low & Night Operations 1:05:05 Service Before Self: Squadron Philosophy 1:05:48 Debriefs, Camaraderie & Squadron Culture 1:06:54 Work Hard, Party Hard: Social Life in the Air Force 1:10:29 Advice for Aspirants & Message to the Youth #IAFUnplugged #IndianAirForce #MakingOfAPilot #DISHA #MiG29 #C130 #ALH #FighterPilot #NDA #AFCAT #IAF #Aviation