LIMA'25: Asghar Khan's farewell to airforce
More than an aerobatic display for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA'25), the flight was a heartfelt tribute to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), the institution that has been his lifeblood, and a powerful reflection of his passion, courage and enduring fighting spirit.
Today marked the third consecutive day that the Air Force Chief, fondly known by his call sign, 'Gunjiz', piloted the fighter jet nicknamed Toruk Makto, proudly bearing the Jalur Gemilang livery.
Reflecting on his final flight, the Selangor-born pilot shared that his participation in LIMA'25 was driven by a desire to lead by example, especially at a time when the RMAF is facing a shortage of pilots for aerobatic manoeuvres in the event's 17th edition.
'For this air show, we're short on aerobatic pilots due to various global circumstances. That's one of the reasons I decided to step in to help fill the gap and support the team,' he said.
'...And also, I'm retiring in a month, so I just wanted to have fun,' he said.
What reignited his desire to return to the cockpit was a series of conversations with his foreign counterparts during their visits to Malaysia, where he learned that some of them were still actively flying.
'I hadn't flown in quite a while. But last year, a few of my counterparts from abroad came to Malaysia and mentioned that some generals in their countries were still flying. That got me thinking — so I decided to 'intercept' them,' he said.
He also shared that he had made a promise to the Russian Knights, the world-renowned aerobatic team from Russia, that if they returned to perform at LIMA in 2025, he would return to the skies alongside them.
On the opening day of LIMA'25 on Tuesday, Mohd Asghar Khan made history as the first RMAF Chief to fly in the air show since the exhibition began in 1991.
He opened the aerial demonstration in spectacular fashion, performing breathtaking formations that captivated the thousands of spectators in attendance.
Adding a personal touch to the moment, he flew alongside Colonel Sting, whose real name is Col Mohd Norazan Othman, one of his protégés during their time in the MiG-29N squadron.
Mohd Asghar Khan began his journey with the Malaysian Armed Forces on July 18, 1983, as a cadet officer at the Royal Military College and started his career as a fighter pilot in 1985.
Over the years, he held numerous key positions, including Commanding Officer of No. 19 Squadron (MiG-29N), Commanding Officer of No. 11 Squadron (SU-30MKM), Commander of Gong Kedak Air Base, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Strategy at RMAF Headquarters, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Training (J3) at the Joint Forces Headquarters, Commander of the Air Education and Training Command and Deputy Chief of Air Force.
He was appointed Chief of Air Force on March 7, 2022, succeeding General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad upon his retirement.
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