In 1988, I was undergoing training as part of 141PC. My instructor was very strongly against me as I told him that I wud prefer to be a transport pilot. He wanted me to be a fighter pilot which actually was my dream. My turning point was low level navigation and close formation flying. We were supposed to fly at 500ft for low level navigation but I chose 200feet and flew all points to pin point accuracy and in close formation flying I flew with just half a wing spacinmg. My Instructor then asked me to fly with an officer who was Sqn Ldr then and aksed me if I will mind being hit by him in the cockpit as a reflex. I was an officer already. I had seen that officer hit his pupils badly and seen his pupils come out of cockpit with bleeding nose. In those days IAF had Flt Cadets. My prompt reply was that I do not mind as long as the officer does mind being hit by me in reflex and I being a boxer from NDA was used to delivering a combination of punches.
I never flew with that guy ever. So much so that even in Sea Harriers I met him and he did not take to air against me. I told this story to Parikkar when this officer was holding a very senior position in IAF and he laughed his heart out. That happened on 27th Feb 2016 in the office of RM.
Some people make it to top for want of better guys.