Inspirational Memorial

Nothing can ease the pain of losing a loved one in the course of active flying duty, in war or peacetime. AASF is a living memorial of India’s forgotten war heroes and our belief is that the contributions of all the pilots should not go to waste.

Flying has inherent risks and combat flying even more so. Hence, whether in peace or at war, a fighter pilot’s life, like a soldier’s, is always at risk. The war offers glory but the loss of lives during peacetime active flying duties is soon forgotten. Yet this supreme sacrifice should not be seen as devoid of any value just because it was not during the time of war. In fact, the man in the cockpit is always at war with the environment and his machine, trying to be their master. Sometimes he may lose, but he never gives up.

There are hundreds who have thus lost their lives in these unseen battles, in the course of active flying duties, during war and in peacetime. Their names should not be forgotten, and the dedication and the courage of these soldier-pilots must be acknowledged by all. Not only by those who have been left behind to mourn them silently, but the entire nation must remember their contribution, to draw upon their lessons and to be inspired to complete their missions to carry the torch forward.

Towards this, the AASF has pledged to raise an inspirational aviation institute, as a memorial, in Pune. One such soldier-pilot is Flt Lt. Abhijit Gadgil who even in passing, left behind a great legacy of which this proposed memorial institute, Jeet Aerospace is the manifest form and a homage to him, and others like him, who live forever in our hearts.

The artists rendering of what the memorial will look like, represents a stone figure surrounded by translucent bands, bearing the names of all the soldier-pilots that laid down their lives in the line of duty.