TEST THE SKY WITH GLORY

About the Book :

The book is all about the struggles and achievements of the author! He came from a very humble but cultured and orthodox background. He progressed from nowhere to dizzy heights professionally and personally. Met the PM of India professionally on selection of the helicopter for ONGC and inter acted with the future President of India during the making of the first Indigenous helicopter at HAL Bangalore.He piloted the Presidents and Prime Ministers of various countries in India and overseas. His whole professional life has been churning and chopping but he comes out successful, unscratched and worthy as an Indian .He owes it all to his parents, wife, teachers and colleagues and lastly but not the least to the Almighty who guided him through this journey! It is all there to read and enjoy!

About Author :

Gp. Capt. Vikas Karandikar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. In June 1970 he was commissioned as Pilot in the Indian Air Force. At a tender age of just 22years he took active part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot on Rotary wing aircraft. While in the air force he under took flight evaluations of several helicopters and airborne systems for the IAF. These included the Mi-17, Mi-26,CH47C, Westland - 30, SA365N Dauphin, Bell412 ST and the Sikorsky-76A.He did pioneering work on the Night Vision Goggles in India. He was instrumental in starting the Test Pilots course on Rotary Wing at ASTE Bangalore. He was the Project pilot for the Advance Light Helicopter from its design stage to the making of the first Ground Test Vehicle. He commanded the most prestigious helicopter Unit of Cheetah helicopters at Leh and successfully undertook operations over the Siachen Glacier. He has flown over 31 types of helicopters with aircrew from, Italy, France. Britain, USA, Nigeria, Mauritius, Canada, Netherlands, Chile, Brazil and Russia. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in Jan 1982 and the Commendation by the Chief of the Army Staff on 15 Jan 1989.Both awards were for his heroic deeds in helicopter operations. In Dec1996 he joined Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd at Mumbai. Thereafter he worked as a civil helicopter pilot in India and overseas and took honourable retirement from flying in Feb2011. Presently he resides with his wife in Pune and plays a game of golf at RSI golf course apart from following his studies in Astrology.