GUWAHATI, Aug 1 � Air Marshal S Varthaman, AVSM, has taken over as AOC in C, Eastern Air Command today, an official press note stated.
Trained at the National Defence Academy, he joined the IAF as a fighter pilot in 1973 and is among the few pilots in service today who hold the distinction of flying 40 types of aircraft with over 4,000 flying hours to his credit.
The officer is an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified
Flying Instructor. Among his appointments in this specialisation include Chief Test Pilot of ASTE, the only testing establishment of the IAF and Chief Flying Instructor at Fighter Training Wing, Hakimpet.
As Air Attache in Paris and the Benelux countries, he was involved in international defence co-operation with European air forces. He is the recipient of Athi Vishist Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal and Vishist Seva Medal.
