Suranjan Das, Test Pilot
Test Pilot

Suranjan Das

Born 22 February 1920 · verify — Died 10 January 1970

Among the first Indian pilots trained at Empire Test Pilots School and director of IAF Aircraft & Armament Testing Group.

Suranjan Das was a pilot in the Indian Air Force. He joined the Royal Indian Air Force during the Second World War and was among the first pilots to be sent to Empire Test Pilots School to a test pilot for the Indian Air Force. He was a group captain. He commanded the Halwara Air Force Station Base between 1967 and 1969 and was the director of the Aircraft & Armament Testing Group of the Indian Air Force from 1969 until his death.

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A detail that
surprised us

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The 4.1-km stretch connecting Old Madras Road and Old Airport Road in Bangalore is named Suranjan Das Road in his honor.

The Story

1
✈️ In 1949, Suranjan Das became one of the first Indian pilots to graduate from the Empire Test Pilots School in the UK, marking a milestone in Indian aviation history.
2
🚀 In 1961, he was the chief test pilot to fly India’s indigenous fighter-bomber, the HAL HF-24 Marut, pioneering India's strides in defense aviation.
3During the mid-1950s, Das tested the Folland Gnat, a compact fighter jet initially rejected in Britain but later crucial in the 1965 Indo-Pak war under Indian command.
4🛩️ Once while test flying the Gnat, he experienced a dangerous aileron failure during an eight-point roll but chose to radio instructions calmly instead of ejecting, aiding future pilot safety protocols.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
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Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1949, Suranjan Das was one of just two Indian pilots sent to the Empire Test Pilots School in the UK, highlighting early post-independence efforts to build domestic aviation expertise.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth of Suranjan Das
Born on 22 February 1920, Suranjan Das entered a family with a legal and administrative legacy, being the son of Sudhi Ranjan Das.
1920
📚
Education
Graduated from Empire Test Pilots School
Das was among the first Indians to graduate from the Empire Test Pilots School in the UK, marking his entry into advanced aircraft testing.
1949
⚡
Career
First flight of HAL HF-24 Marut
Das piloted the maiden flight of India's indigenous jet fighter-bomber HAL HF-24 Marut in 1961, a critical milestone in Indian aerospace.
1961
⚡
Career
Commanded Halwara Air Force Station
Between 1967-1969, Das commanded the Halwara Air Force Station, a strategic base for the IAF.
1967
⚡
Career
Director of Aircraft & Armament Testing Group
Das took charge as director of the Aircraft & Armament Testing Group, overseeing critical defense testing until his death.
1969
🕊️
Death
Death in test flight crash
Died on 10 January 1970 while test flying a HAL HF-24 prototype, underscoring the dangers of aviation innovation.
1970
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

During a test flight of the Folland Gnat, Das encountered a dangerous control failure but chose to stay with the aircraft, calmly communicating corrective measures over radio instead of ejecting.

02 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Though the Gnat was rejected in the UK, Das’s test flights contributed to its eventual success in the 1965 Indo-Pak war, where it was nicknamed 'Sabre Slayer' for its performance.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Das was awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 1970, the same year he died test flying a prototype aircraft — reflecting the high cost of pioneering indigenous military aviation.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Suranjan Das’s work as a test pilot directly influenced the development and safety protocols of India’s indigenous aircraft like the HF-24 Marut and HJT-16 Kiran. His leadership in aircraft testing helped lay the foundation for India’s self-reliance in defense aviation technology. The Indian Air Force continues to honor his legacy through infrastructure naming and aviation history.

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