Std 9 English  

Unit 8 A day in the life of an Indian Fighter Pilot

Questions Answer

પ્રશ્નો જવાબ...



Read the extracts and answer the

questions.


(1) It is 5 o'clock on a cold February morning. Wing Commander K. S. Suresh steps into a staff car that will take him to an air base of India's western sector. The black car passes through barrack type houses and stops at an Air Force security gate. A uniformed guard recognizes Suresh and salutes him smartly. Behind the gate stand MiG of IAF squadrons, each under a different commander. K. S. Suresh, called as Kukee, commands 321 squadron.)


1. What does No. 321 refer to ?

Ans. 321 squadron refers to the commanded by Kukee. 


2. Where does Wing Commander K. S. Suresh go at 5 a.m. ?

Ans. Wing Commander K. S. Suresh goes to the air base of India's western sector.


3. What is K. S. Suresh called? 

Ans. K. S. Suresh is called Kukee.


4. What does the guard do?

Ans. The guard recognizes Suresh and salutes him smartly.


(2) At 5.20 a.m. Kukee is in a flight planning room. There are maps and identification charts on the walls Today's order for Kukee is an air strike at Batala, Punjab, at 7,00 a.m.) He will lead a (two plane formation against 'enemy'- 17th Armoured Brigade of a hostile country.


1. Where is K. S. Suresh at 5.20 a.m. ?

Ans. At 5.20 a.m. K. S. Suresh is in the

flight planning room. 


2. What is the order for Kukee on that

day?

Ans. On that day, the order for Kukee is an air strike at Batala, Punjab at 7 a.m.


3. What will Kukee lead?

Ans. Kukee will lead a two plane formation against 'enemy' - 17th Armoured

Brigade of a hostile country. 


4. What is there on the walls of the planning room? 

Ans. There are maps and identification charts on the walls of the planning room.


(3) This mission is assigned by Command Headquarters. Wartime conditions are practised as actually as possible. On this day Kukee is too busy to worry about the risks. He calls the Meteorological Officer to get the weather report thick clouds. at 550 metres, visibility 5 kilometres, al haze at 400 metres, west wind at 15 kph, and slight air disturbance.)


1. Who has assigned the mission? 

Ans. The Command Headquarters has assigned the mission.

2. Why does Kukee call the Meteoro logical Officer?

Ans. Kukee calls the Meteorological Officer to get the weather report. 


3. How was the weather on that day?

Ans. On that day, there were thick clouds. at 580 metron, visibility 5 kilometres, a haze at 400 metres, west wind at 15 kph and slight air disturbance.


1. What is Tyagi called? 

Ans. Tyagi is called 'Bundle'.


2. What does Kukee do in the flight

planning room?

Ans. In the flight planning room, Kukee takes out a map from the shelf and chalks outs the path and speed of the plane.


3. What does Kukee do after the

mission is planned ?

Ans. After the mission is planned, Kukee goes to another room and discusses. the target with an army officer.


4. How long does it take to plan the mission ?

Ans. It takes one hour to plan the mission.


5. What is Tyagi on this misson? 

Ans. On this mission, Tyagi is Kukee's

wingman.


(5) Only twenty minutes are left before engine starting time. Kukee grabs helmet, oxygen mask and lead set, and walks to the servicing station. There he examines the forms certifying that every part in the plane has been checked. Then he walks around the plane to check for leaks. loose panels and pins. There are none. so he climbs into his seat, connects his oxygen supply and radio. Next he pulls out a safety pin from the seat, and then becomes 'Live'. If he pulls the cord, the seat with a parachute will rocket 200 metres out of the aircraft in less than a second.


1. What does Kukee carry with him to the servicing station?

Ans. Kukee carries his helmet, oxygen

mask and lead set to the service. station.


2. What precautions does Kukee take

before the final take off?

Ans. Before the final take off, Kukee

checks the plane for leaks, loose panels and pins. 


3. What does Kukee examine?

Ans. Kukee examines the forms certifying that every part in the plane has been checked.


4. What will happen if he pulls the cord ?

Ans. If he pulls the cord, the seat with a parachute will rocket 200 metres out of the aircraft in less than a second.


5. What does Kukee do after sitting in the plane?

Ans. After sitting in the plane, Kukee

connects his oxygen supply and radio.


3) Now he begins to taxi. On the runway, wingman Tyagi joins him in another MiG 21, which is a single-seater fighter plane. Take off permission received, the two pilots accelerate on the runway. Their wing tips are just some centimetres apart. They lift off at 360 kph and soon climb up and get 950 kph. It is 6:45 a.m., 15 minutes before their time on target. 


1. Which plane is Tyagi flying? 

Ans. Tyagi is flying a MiG-21, a single

seater fighter plane.


2. At what speed do they lift off? 

Ans. They lift off at 360 kph.


7) At 6:55 a.m. they reach their first check point - a village named Mirthal down on the earth. Kukee begins to time his target. As they rise up to 450 metres Tyagi's

plane rocks violently due to air bumps. "A bit bumpy here," says Tyagi on radio. "Breakfast may come up before the bomb goes down," Kukee jokes. Two Hunters appear far to the right as 'enemy' planes. They turn away and vanish.


1. "A bit bumpy here." Who says this?

What does Kukee joke? 

Ans. This is said by Tyagi. Kukee jokes

and says that breakfast may come up before the bomb goes down.


2. Which is their first check point? 

Ans. Their first check point is a village named Mirthal.


3. What happens to Tyagi's plane at 450 metres ?

Ans. At 450 metres, Tyagi's plane rocks violently due to air bumps.


4. What do the two Hunters do ? 

Ans. The two Hunters appear as 'enemy' planes, but they turn away and vanish.


(8) There are clouds all around. The earth has disappeared too. The MiGs are fast approaching the target. Now both the planes dive below the clouds, their planes are flying lower. Kukee sees the target, an 'enemy' tank and he releases the bomb. This is a perfect opportunity to rehearse attack procedures and bomb aiming.


1. What is the target?

Ans. The target is an 'enemy' tank.


2. For what is this exercise a perfect opportunity?

Ans. This exercise is a perfect opportunity to rehearse attack procedures and bomb aiming.

(9) At the time of firing, automatic camera captures the action. The two planes circle, then come down on another target, a bridge. There was a strong wind therefore they released the bombs earlier, butwith accurate calculation. "We have got it right," they say. Visibility has become

worse. "Let's go home," says Kukee.


1. What is the target?

Ans. The target is a bridge.


2. Why did they release the bombs earlier ?Ans. They released the bombs earlier

because there was a strong wind. 


3. Why did Kukee order to go home? Ans. Kukee ordered to go home because

visibility had become worse.


(10) Back at the base, they report to the army man. He admired them, "Commanders, your planes were in the right place at the right time. You have given effective

support to the Army." 


1. What did the army man say in praise of Kukee and Tyagi?


Ans. The army man praised Kukee and Tyagi by saying that their planes were in the right place at the right time and gave an effective support to the army.


(11) Like every Indian fighter pilot, Kukee Suresh does several hundred hours of flying in a year. Generally, two daytime flights and one night sortie. This means that more than half of his working hours are devoted to flying, mission planning and reporting. For the rest of time, 41 year old Kukee is an attack instructor, an air combat leader and a teacher of accurate weapon delivery techniques. He also sees that all the pilots in his squadron maintain this proficiency. Every few years, a pilot is 'rested' for a year or two at a desk job.


1. What duties does Kukee perform for the rest of time?

Ans. For the rest of time, Kukee is an attack instructor, an air combat leader and a teacher of accurate weapon delivery techniques.

2. How many times does Kukee usually

fly?

Ans. Usually, Kukee has two daytime flights and one night sortie. 


3. In what does Kukee spend more

than half of his working hours ? 

Ans. Kukee spends more than half of his working hours in flying, mission. planning and reporting.


4. What does Kukee see to? 

Ans. Kukee sees that all the pilots in his

squadron maintain their proficiency. 


5. How are pilots 'rested'?

Ans. Every few years, pilots are 'rested" for a year or two at a desk job.


6. What does Kukee teach? 

Ans. Kukee teached accurate weapon delivery techniques.

Post a Comment

0 Comments