Wing Commander Nirmal Thusu was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December, 1964. To date, he has accumulated 4700 hours of total flying as well as 2700 glider launches, all of them accident­free. He has 2411 hours of operational flying on the Canberra, both in the Eastern and the Western sectors. He has been and outstanding A-2 Qualified Flying Instructor with over 1900 hours of instructional flying in India and abroad on such varied aircraft types as Canberra, Kiran, HT-2, HPT-32, and L-29. He has held the Master Green Instrument Rating on Canberra and Kiran aircraft since 1974.

Wg Cdr N Thusu has done two eminently successful tenures of duty as Air Force Examiner with the Aircrew Examining Board. As a 'C' Flight Air Force Examiner during these tenures, he has made remarkably significant contribution to the maintenance of a very demanding and high standard of Qualified Flying Instructors. A very keen, perceptive and analytical flier, this officer is endowed with a very rate sense of commitment to flying standards in the IAF in general and to standards within the Aircrew Examining Board, in particular.

For his exceptional qualities as a flierinstructor­examiner, he has been commended by AOsC-in-C on four different occasions and was also commended by the Air Chief of a friendly country for his performance while on deputation to that country as a Qualified Flying Instructor.

For his outstanding professional acumen and his exceptionally outstanding contribution to the maintenance of high standards of flying training, the President is pleased to award Vayu Seva Medal to Wing Commander Nirmal Thusu.

Air Commodore N Thusu, VM was commissioned in the IAF on 25 Dec 64. He holds an A2 instructional category, he has over 6000 hours of accident free flying. In recognition of his exceptional flying skills, he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1987.

Air Commodore N Thusu was posted as Deputy Commandant of Air Force Academy on 03 Jan 94. He was quick to identify such areas of training faculties which required immediate attention. He proceeded to improve the quality and standards of training by closer monitoring of trainees and the methods of instructions. This resulted in significant decline in the suspension rate in the pilot's courses. A model class room with modern teaching aids was set up in the flying faculty and a much required Cafeteria was established for the other training faculties. The Flight Cadets' Mess received a face lift with kitchen being modernised and refurbished completely. He was instrumental in setting up the second Academy Sports Complex which now allows simultaneous participation by all trainees in various sporting disciplines. His professional contributions resulted in Air Force Academy winning the Best Flying Training establishment Trophy in 1994.

Air Commodore N Thusu, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.