Watching
the sky from the banks of the Vembanad
‘Kayal’ was very interesting for us. Jacob
and I could gaze at domestic aero-planes landing and taking off to and from the
airport at Wellington Island, which is just across our island. Suddenly I
spotted a MIG leaving white trails behind; I heard its scream overhead a little
later. We could also gaze naval fighter jets (Gnat and Kiran) taking off skywards
at high-speed and performing their acrobatics in the air; I remember my tense
moments when I used to wish well for the pilots on board. There were helicopter-gunships that take off vertically, hover
and fly in any direction. At times, when the aircraft swerves to the left or
right we are even able to gaze at the pilot. We used to be excited when they
responded to our waving. They were used for aerial survey and observation by
the Indian Naval officers. Both the naval jets and the helicopter-gunships gave
us a treat on the naval week, during the first week of every December.
Later
the domestic and international flights were shifted to the International
Airport at Nedumbassery. The aerodrome at Wellington Island was handed back to
the Indian Navy as it was taken on lease from them. Now I observe the same
enthusiasm in my son, Karan Jose Thayamkeril, whenever he darts out to watch
the war planes or helicopters hover over the ‘Kayal’.
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com
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