The dashing MA to the Chief of Air Force

A Fighter Pilot’s Aviation Journey

The veteran who had two "near death experience", while taming the F-5E Tiger and went on to become the "MA to the legendary Chief of Air Force, Lt Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Ghani.

Major (Rtd) Chandra Mohan RMAF, is a true blue Malaysian — of mixed heritage, raised in multiracial Malaysia, and shaped early by values of discipline, service, and teamwork.

Flying was his ambition from school days. What began as a childhood dream became a lifelong passion that led him into some of the most demanding cockpits of his generation.

He joined the Royal Malaysian Air Force as a cadet in 1972 and went on to serve 21 years. Along the way, he was trained and developed by the RAAF, Pakistan Air Force, and Indonesian Air Force, experiences that forged both his flying skills and his instructor’s mindset.

Although he served across transport and training roles, it was the fighter arena that tested him most deeply. Flying the F-5E Tiger, Maj Mohan encountered moments that demanded absolute calm, discipline, and trust in fundamentals — reminders that fighter aircraft respect training and teamwork, not rank or bravado.

Circa 1990/91 as OC of 11 Sqn he volunteered to undergo testing of an F-5E which just had it engines changed.

The flight profile calls for the aircraft to climb to its max ceiling of 50,000ft to do a slam test on the afterburners to ensure they lighted up in its entire envelope and maneuvers.

Upon completing the mandated flight profile and with still "fuel" to burn, rather than RTB heavy, Maj Mohan decided to enhance his Air Combat Maneuvers (ACM) "dogfighting skills" by carrying out maneuvers that would not only taxed the ac but also his physical self.

One his last hi G pitch-back
he decided to pull the F5 to a near vertical climb until it almost hang on a thread, and at the same time inputting rudders to roll the ac into a stall turn slice for the ac to nose dive to gain speed.

He made an error that nearly “bought him a farm” that day, he quipped.

On his last pull up, the slats were deployed and with the rudder input at almost zero speed it caused the ac to flick and entered into a flat spin...INVERTED. The F5 was supposed to be spin resistant and here he was in one!!

Again "training kicked in". He selected slats in and centralized the control stick as part of the drilled Inital Actions. The aircraft came off the incipient inverted spin and entered into a full upright spin!! During the 3 full turns it took to recover using training that was ingrained into him, he saw his whole life flash before him and the possibility of having to eject and a long swim before being rescued that evening, all the while sticking with the spin recovery actions that finally helped him recover.

That incident reaffirmed his belief that "Instincts must follow Fundamentals".

Those experiences shaped one of his defining qualities: an unwavering belief in instruction and preparation.

He became one of the few RMAF pilots to hold senior command and instructional roles across Transport, Training, and Fighter Command, mentoring many who would later rise to senior leadership themselves.

After more than two decades of continuous flying, he chose early retirement from the Air Force — not to step away from aviation, but to continue contributing in a different arena. He went on to fly another 24 years in civil aviation, including with AirAsia, serving as a pilot, instructor, and Regional Director of Flight Operations.

In the airlines, he was involved in a major fleet transitions from Boeing to an all Airbus fleet and regional expansion, once again returning to what he knew best: coaching, mentoring, leading and developing people.

Retiring from flying in 2018 at age 65, Maj Mohan redirected his lifelong passion for teaching beyond the cockpit. He equipped himself as an Executive Coach and continues to mentor individuals and leaders — guided by the same principles that sustained him as a fighter pilot: respect for fundamentals, humility, and service with gratitude.

Reflecting on his journey, he says:

“The Air Force gave me a solid foundation in my aviation career and the airlines polished me to be the man I am today and for that, I am forever grateful.”


The aircraft may change.
The uniform may be set aside.
But the purpose remains.

A fighter pilot.
A teacher of pilots.
A mentor for life.


On behalf of a grateful nation, we thank you for your service, Sir.

2nd from Right, as a young trainee Pilot Officer at RAAF East Sale. Also seen in this picture his close buddy former Chief of Air Force OP Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Rodzali Bin Daud "Big Foot".

Commercial chapter, as the A330 Pilot, DFO and Instructor for Air Asia.

Picture Credit: Maj Chandramohan RMAF

Source: Jeyaganesh Gopalsamy's Facebook Post


Recorded for MACVA Archives.
27 Feb 2026