sudhir007
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Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: R.I.P: Four years after lying in coma following ALH crash, IAF’s top Sarang stunt pilot Wg Cdr Jetly dies
Four years after the ill-fated crash of IAFs Sarang ALH chopper in Bangalore, the pilot who hung on to life in a stage of coma, is no more. Wg Cdr V. Jatley passed away on January 11. Jetleys co-pilot Sqn Ldr Priye Sharma had died during the crash in 2007.
It was on 2 Feb 07 that a brand new ALH rolled out of HALs Helicopter Division in Bangalore, donning the mesmerizing colors of Sarang, crashed at the Yelahanka air base during a normal practice sortie. The helicopter crashed after a hard left turn at low-altitude, readying itself for the show-stopper cross-over maneuver. The incident happened just 5 days before the Aero India 2007. It was the worst-year for HAL with IJT skidding off the runway, while on a take-off mode.
Military sources tell Tarmak007 that the Jetly was admitted to Command Hospital in Bangalore for a long time and the doctors trying everything to bring him back to normal life. He is survived his by wife Shalini and two children. His colleagues in the Sarang Aerobatic Team remember him as an extremely brave pilot.
HAL went out of its way (thanks to the then chief Baweja) to help the families of both pilots -- considering that the crashed chopper came out of its hangars. Shalini was given an employment at HAL Liaison Office in Delhi, but had to proceed on a long leave owing to domestic issues.
"He was a good guy. I remember him as a very disciplined pilot, always smiling. Very friendly," says an IAF spokesperson, who had seen Jetley from very close quarters, during his initial days in IAF.
A solid chap, who encouraged youngsters: Ex-team member
"He was a solid chap. Sober. He was a man of few words. What made him different was that he always encouraged youngsters. His energy levels were very high. He was the main member of the formation flying," recalls one of his former team members. "He was part of the Sarang team right from the beginning of the team's formation (2003). He was a Chetah pilot, who used to operate in Leh. He was picked for the aerobatic team, purely due to his excellent flying skills. He was an extremely fit person. We will miss him for a long time to come," the pilot, who was part of the first batch of Sarang said.
R.I.P.
Four years after the ill-fated crash of IAFs Sarang ALH chopper in Bangalore, the pilot who hung on to life in a stage of coma, is no more. Wg Cdr V. Jatley passed away on January 11. Jetleys co-pilot Sqn Ldr Priye Sharma had died during the crash in 2007.
It was on 2 Feb 07 that a brand new ALH rolled out of HALs Helicopter Division in Bangalore, donning the mesmerizing colors of Sarang, crashed at the Yelahanka air base during a normal practice sortie. The helicopter crashed after a hard left turn at low-altitude, readying itself for the show-stopper cross-over maneuver. The incident happened just 5 days before the Aero India 2007. It was the worst-year for HAL with IJT skidding off the runway, while on a take-off mode.
Military sources tell Tarmak007 that the Jetly was admitted to Command Hospital in Bangalore for a long time and the doctors trying everything to bring him back to normal life. He is survived his by wife Shalini and two children. His colleagues in the Sarang Aerobatic Team remember him as an extremely brave pilot.
HAL went out of its way (thanks to the then chief Baweja) to help the families of both pilots -- considering that the crashed chopper came out of its hangars. Shalini was given an employment at HAL Liaison Office in Delhi, but had to proceed on a long leave owing to domestic issues.
"He was a good guy. I remember him as a very disciplined pilot, always smiling. Very friendly," says an IAF spokesperson, who had seen Jetley from very close quarters, during his initial days in IAF.
A solid chap, who encouraged youngsters: Ex-team member
"He was a solid chap. Sober. He was a man of few words. What made him different was that he always encouraged youngsters. His energy levels were very high. He was the main member of the formation flying," recalls one of his former team members. "He was part of the Sarang team right from the beginning of the team's formation (2003). He was a Chetah pilot, who used to operate in Leh. He was picked for the aerobatic team, purely due to his excellent flying skills. He was an extremely fit person. We will miss him for a long time to come," the pilot, who was part of the first batch of Sarang said.
R.I.P.