Navy: Shaurya Chakra-awarded Captain Gosavi made his last flight memorable; flew with his school junior
Navy: Captain Gosavi served for 34 years in the Navy's aviation wing. He retired on 31 July. He has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra for valor. Along with this, he has also been awarded the Navy Medal.
Lieutenant Commander Nikhil Aher will remember his short flight for a long time. In fact, the 29-year-old pilot took off in his favorite Kamov Ka-31 helicopter a day before his school senior and respected naval officer Captain Kaustubh Gosavi retired.
Captain Gosavi served for 34 years in the Navy's aviation wing. He retired on 31 July after his important tenure. He has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra for valor. Along with this, he has also been awarded the Navy Medal. He has a special identity in the Navy's helicopter fleet, especially in the Kamov helicopter. At the same time, many people like Lieutenant Commander Aher consider him their idol.
Lieutenant Commander Aher said, 'When I came to know that a flight was planned for Gosavi Sir, I took the opportunity to fly with him in his favorite helicopter.'
Notably, Gosavi and Aher have been students of the same Sainik School Sitara. This school is India's first Sainik School managed by the Ministry of Defense. Captain Gosavi passed out in 1986, while Lieutenant Commander Aher left the school in 2012 and joined the National Defense Academy.
Lieutenant Commander Aher said that Captain Gosavi was also the commanding officer of the Kamov KA-31 squadron in Goa and was an idol for young soldiers. He was in the batch that brought the Russian Kamov KA-31 in the year 2004. The Indian Navy operates a fleet of Kamov Ka-28 helicopters primarily for anti-submarine operations. Captain Gosavi is also an accomplished pilot of the Kamov Ka-28. He later trained to fly the Kamov Ka-31 in Russia.
Captain Gosavi said, 'It was an emotional moment for me on Tuesday when the Kamov Ka-31 landed on INS Shikra after my last flight. What made the occasion even more memorable was that the pilot was from my school.
INS Shikra, formerly known as INS Kunjali, is a naval airbase and a heliport in Colaba, South Mumbai. In 2015, Captain Gosavi was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for saving the lives of 15 people in daring search and rescue operations. He was awarded the Navy Medal (Gallantry) in 2014.
Pilots are given a water cannon gun salute after the last landing of their flying career. This honor is also given when landing at any airport for the first time.
