Cheetah "SA 315B Lama" Engraved Whiskey Glass

Some helicopters don’t impress with size or speed—they earn respect through endurance, courage, and quiet heroism. The HAL Cheetah is one such legend. For decades, this slender, high-altitude specialist has served as the Indian Air Force’s lifeline to the world’s most unforgiving terrain.

The Cheetah Engraved Whiskey Glass pays tribute to a helicopter that flew where few others could—and often when no one else could.

Precision-engraved in clean technical line art, this glass captures the Cheetah’s delicate frame and unmistakable rotor silhouette—an aircraft that proved lightness, skill, and bravery can overcome altitude, weather, and isolation.

Why the Cheetah is legendary in India

• A master of high altitude
  Inducted into the Indian Air Force in the 1970s, the Cheetah (a licence-built version of the Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama) became synonymous with operations in the Himalayas. It routinely flew in regions where oxygen is scarce, winds are brutal, and margins for error are razor-thin.

• The helicopter that conquered Siachen
  The Cheetah played a critical role in sustaining Indian presence on the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world. It ferried troops, supplies, fuel, and hope to icy helipads perched at extreme altitudes—missions that demanded absolute precision and courage from both aircraft and crew.

• Flying beyond the limits
  The Lama/Cheetah design is famous for altitude records, including landings on peaks above 7,000 metres. In Indian service, Cheetahs routinely operated near the very edge of helicopter performance envelopes—often landing on tiny ridgelines with barely enough power to hover.

• A pilot’s ultimate test
  Among IAF aviators, flying the Cheetah is considered a rite of passage. With minimal power margins and no room for complacency, it demands flawless judgment, smooth control inputs, and deep respect for mountain weather. Many pilots describe it as “the helicopter that teaches humility.”

• More than a military machine
  Beyond military roles, the Cheetah became a lifeline for civilians—rescuing stranded trekkers, evacuating the injured, delivering supplies to remote villages, and supporting disaster relief in terrain unreachable by roads.

• Quiet service, lasting legacy
  While newer helicopters are gradually taking over its duties, the Cheetah’s contribution is woven deeply into India’s mountain aviation history. Its long service life stands as proof that the right design, in skilled hands, can transcend generations.

Product Specifications

• Premium whiskey glass (300 ml capacity)

• High-clarity crystal material with precision engrave of Cheetah helicopter profile, capturing its slim fuselage, skids.
  

• Suitable for whiskey, aged spirits or for display as a “heritage piece”

Who will appreciate this

• IAF personnel past and present, especially in transport or heavy-lift roles

• Military aviation enthusiasts, heavy-lift helicopter buffs

• Collectors of defence-heritage drinkware and specialist aviation memorabilia

• Gift-buyers looking for something meaningful for veterans, aviators or collectors

Usage & Care

• Hand-wash recommended to preserve the etched detail; avoid abrasive scrubbing

• Do not pour very hot beverages directly — treat it as fine drinkware

• Display on a dark wood or leather coaster to highlight the etching

• Keep upright if used as a display piece; use as you would any premium whiskey glass

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Glass Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 9.3 Centimeters

Glass Weight: 330 g

Glass Capacity: 300 ml

These glasses are heavy with a solid bottom where most of the weight holds. This makes them great to hold in your hand. These glasses are well made and if you care for them it'll last you a lifetime.

NOTE: These engravings are hand finished which take about 5 hours. When we get your order, we will take 2-3 days to finish the engraved glasses and will ship them out on the 4th day. Typically they will reach you 10 days from the day you place the order.

Since the glasses are hand engraved, it will be 95% as shown in the image, the rest 5% variance is unique to each hand engraving process.

Why it belongs in your collection

The Cheetah never chased headlines.
It chased survival, supply lines, and second chances.

It flew when weather turned hostile, when runways didn’t exist, and when the mission mattered more than comfort.

Raise a glass to the helicopter that kept watch over India’s highest frontiers—
quietly, faithfully, and fearlessly.