Former Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgaonkar, who had the honor of leading the fly-past on Independence day in 1947, passed away in Pune after a prolonged illness.
Always seek knowledge:
- He died on 9th April 2015 at the age of 95.
- He was admitted to Command Hospital on March 29.
- He is survived by a son and a daughter.
- An exceptionally skilled pilot, Moolgaonkar, who took over as the Air Chief in 1976, retired in 1978 after a distinguished service of 38 years.
- He became the first Indian to fly faster than sound, flying a Mystere-II fighter Bomber in 1951.
- He was commissioned in the Royal Indian Air Force in 1940.
- His competence as an ace pilot manifested as he flew 67 types of aircraft during his long span in the IAF.
- Air Chief Moolgaonkar went to France and UK for the acquisition of Second Generation Fighter Jet for the IAF and was one of the first to fly the MiG fighter aircraft in 1954.
- He was also one of the first to fly the Gnat fighter when the IAF evaluated it at Chilboten in UK in 1954. Moolgavkar always maintained his flying status.
- He was always known as a stickler for flight safety.
- After taking over as the Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, he took upon himself the task of bringing the IAF’s accident rate under control.
