“A wingman isn’t just someone who flies beside you. He’s the one who makes sure you never fly alone.” – Anonymous
This article is penned in memory of the late Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payoe RWP, RSP, USP, MSc (NSWS-Pak), ndc (Pak), psc on his birthday 12th September.
Prasanna. Though you are no longer with us, we still feel you flying beside us, steady and sure. You were not just a pilot who shared the cockpit and the crew room; you were a colleague who shared laughter, long standby hours, quiet challenges, and proud triumphs. You were our wingman not only in the skies, but also in life’s journey.
We could always count on your calm voice when turbulence set in, on your steady hand when the mission demanded precision, and on the unspoken trust that only true wingmen understand. You were always there exactly where you were needed most.
On your birthday, we look to the heavens and picture you there free, fearless, and finally at peace. The horizon claimed you from us far too soon on 18th January 2025, yet your presence lingers with us. Every flight that cuts across the morning sky, every sunrise breaking through the clouds, every whisper of wind through the hangar doors carries your spirit forward.
You remain a guide for young aviators, a compass for those who follow, and the quiet strength in every formation. You remind us that courage lives not only in the takeoff, but in the way we live, the way we serve, and the way we remember.
Until we meet again in that endless blue, we will carry you in our hearts. We will honour you in every takeoff, every salute, and every moment of silence when we pause to remember the air warrior, the aviator, the steadfast officer, and the true gentleman you were.
Blue skies forever, our Wingman. Blue skies forever, our Buddy.
(The writer is President, Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers, Senior Fellow South Asia Foresight Network, Formerly Commander Sri Lanka Air Force and Ambassador to Afghanistan)
Article Courtesy: ACM Gagan Bulathsinghala
