Aces High!

On Thursday, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam stepped aside from his regular presidential duties and donned the mantle of a pilot. When Kalam completed a 30-minute sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MkI from the Lohegaon air base of the Indian Air Force, he became the first Indian President to fly in an advanced fighter jet and also the oldest Indian to do so.

Kalam flew in the aircraft piloted by Wing Commander Ajay Rathore, commanding officer of the `Lightning' squadron. According to the IAF, the President was required to operate a few control panels sitting at the back.

While aged test pilots are employed by some aircraft manufacturers abroad, IAF officials said air chief marshals can fly a fighter jet before superannuating at the age of 60 years. IAF spokesperson, Wing Commander S M Sharma said there are no records to establish that somebody older than President Kalam has flown a fighter jet either as a pilot or a co-pilot.

The President, who had undertaken a submarine voyage in February, flew at a height of six to eight kms (approximately 25,000 feet) in the air, Banerjee said. He later watched a mock fight involving ten Sukhois and three Jaguars. On his arrival at the Airbase earlier, the President was received by Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani, Vice Chief of the air (VCAS), Air Marshal PK Mehta, Air Officer Commanding in-Chief, South Western Air Command (SWAC) and Air Commodore M Banerjee, Air Officer Commanding Air Force Base, Pune. Air Warriors of the airbase presented a ceremonial guard of honour to the President at the lightning squadron tarmac.

(article & photo: times of india dot com)