The Army Microlight Flying Expedition 2015, a challenging national event, was flagged of on Friday, by lt Gen Ravindra Singh Panwar, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Commandant Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow and Colonel Commandant of Corps of Signals. The expedition has been organized by the Indian Army Adventure Nodal Centre (Microlight & PHG) which functions under MCTE Mhow .This prestigious adventure node specializes in the adventurous sport of Microlight Flying (Fixed Wing Aircraft & Flexible Wing Aircraft (Powered Hang Gliding) and has undertaken many daring expeditions in the past too and are populary known as ‘The Mountain Eagles’.
The ‘Army Microlight Expedition 2015’ involves cross country flying by a fleet of four Microlight aircraft and four Powered Hang Gliders over a distance of 1720 kms approximately in ten days of flying; connecting Mhow, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Bhopal, Dhana besides many other cities and towns en route. During this expedition, 8 grand Air Shows will also be conducted at Nasik, Ahmednagar, Karjat, Dhule, Khargone, Bhopal, Dhana and Mhow to promote the spirit of adventure and love for flying. These aircraft are being flown by a team of qualified pilots from all arms and services of the Army.
The pilots of the aircraft are Col MS Randhawa, Col Ranjeev Singh, lt Col Bobby PG Singh, lt Col MS Chawla (Team leader), Maj Aby TM (Deputy Team leader), CHM GC Rana, CQMH Suja Ram, Nk NC Giri and Signalman Babu lal all of whom are flying instructors at the Army Adventure Nodal Centre. Other pilots include, Maj Ankush Goyal, Maj Kunal Pal, Capt Thejassmitha, Capt Priyanka Surve, Capt Vivek Prakash, Capt Praveen Kumar, CHM Bahadur Singh, Hav Amrit lal, lance Hav Ravindra Singh, lNk Anup Tigga, Rfn Uttam Karki, Rfn Nikhil Gurung, Gnr Rajesh Thakur and Sep Sunil Kumar.