Lessons from Life in the Air Force

By Group Captain Sanjeev Bedi (Retd)

During my years in the Air Force, I learned that technology, discipline, teamwork, and trust are what make the impossible possible. I had the honor of serving in the Formation Aerobatic Team—later known as Suryakiran. Nine aircraft flew in perfect coordination, wingtip to wingtip, sometimes just ten feet apart.

Each of us looked only at our reference aircraft, not the leader. The entire team depended on collective precision and faith. If the leader faltered, we would all follow without hesitation. That’s the power—and responsibility—of interdependence. It takes years of practice and unwavering trust to function as one.

I also learned the will to fight back. In 1988, I was flying a routine ferry mission in a MiG-21 when a series of system failures turned the sortie into a crisis. Within seconds, I lost control of the aircraft and had to eject. The force of ejection was tremendous; I lost consciousness and came to hanging under my parachute, descending dangerously close to high-tension wires. I pulled the cords hard and managed to steer clear but landed with a fractured leg.

I had two choices: give up fighter flying or recover and return. I chose to fight back. Months of recovery later, I was back in the cockpit—and continued flying fighters for 21 more years.

Reflection
Every setback teaches you to begin again. Whether in the skies or in the corporate world, success depends on teamwork, resilience, and faith in your people. When challenges knock you off course, the key is not to surrender, but to recalibrate and take flight again. That’s what I carried with me from the Air Force—the will to rise, again and again.

ABCEL Perspective
Group Captain Bedi’s journey through precision flying and recovery captures the essence of resilience — to rise, to recalibrate, and to return stronger. His reflection on teamwork and trust extends beyond the Air Force cockpit to every collective endeavor. Veterans like him remind us that excellence is never solitary; it’s a rhythm of coordination, discipline, and shared belief — lessons that resonate in boardrooms as deeply as they do in the skies.