AIR FORCE OFFICER CREATES HISTORY
Flt Lt Kamal
Singh Oberh of the Indian Air Force created history at 0430 hrs,
Khatanga time, on 20 Apr 2002 by successfully carrying out a sky
diving jump at the North Pole. With this, he achieved the distinction
of being the first Indian to have carried out sky diving jumps
both at the North Pole and the South Pole. The officer had earlier
earned the distinction of being the first Indian to make a sky
diving jump over South Pole on 1st Jan 2001.
The
jump at the North Pole was carried out from a height of 5000ft
using a Mi-8 helicopter. The parachute used was in tri-colour,
depicting Indian National Flag.
It
may be recalled that Sqn Ldr Sanjay Thapar of the Indian Air Force
had earlier achieved the distinction of being the first Indian
to para jump at North Pole on 21 Apr 1997.
Flt Lt Kamal
is a qualified Parachute Jump Instructor and Skydiving Instructor
who graduated from the prestigious Paratroopers Training School,
Agra. Presently, the Officer is posted at National Defence Academy,
Pune.
The
IAF has always been in the forefront in promoting adventure sports
in the country with special emphasis on para-sailing, skydiving,
micro light flying and hang-gliding. Air Force personnel have
numerous records, both at the international and national level,
to their credit, in the field of adventure sports.
