1. President Patil to enter Guinness Book by
flying fighter jet
By Praful Kumar Singh, New Delhi, Nov 17 : President Pratibha Devisingh Patil is
all set to enter Guinness Book of world records on November 25 by becoming the
first lady president to fly a fighter jet.
The President will fly on the fourth-generation twin-seater
Sukhoi-30MKI at the Lohegaon airbase in Pune on November 25.
'We all should be proud that it will be a record in the world that a lady president will fly
the latest technology aircraft...I think we all Indians should be proud of that why to talk
of the Indian Air Force. India has created many firsts and this is the another first and it
also shows women empowerment,' said Air Marshal PK Barbora, Vice Chief of the Air
Staff.
The Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force said on Tuesday that President Patil has been
declared fully fit for the flight and no modifications have been done for her on the
aircraft.
'She is fully fit lady and fully capable of doing it...we have briefed her in totality, we have
shown her photographs, we have also shown her video as to how to get in, how the
cockpit looks like. There is no special arrangement, she has been fitted out with the full
'Kit' that's the pilot wears,' Air Marshal Barbora said.
He further said that being the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, it is a matter of
pride for the IAF that President Patil will be flying on Sukhoi-30MKI.
The flight duration will be of 30 minutes and Wing Commander S. Sajan will fly the
fighter aircraft.
The IAF will take all care to ensure Patil is comfortable in the cockpit, with pilot sticking
to a simple cruising flight of around Mach 0.9 (around 900 kmph), Air Marshal Barbora
said.
The President will be going to the Lohegaon airbase in Pune as part of her customary
visit.