New Delhi, October 29: President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, created history on Wednesday by flying a Rafale fighter aircraft from the Ambala Air Force Base. Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew in another aircraft along with her. President Murmu had earlier flown a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft from Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.
President Murmu arrived at the Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana this morning, where Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and several other officers were present. The President, the Supreme Commander of the three armed forces, was given a guard of honour upon her arrival. After this, she boarded the Rafale aircraft and flew in the skies of Ambala.
The pilot of the aircraft carrying the President was Group Captain Amit Gehani, who is also the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Indian Air Force’s No. 17 Squadron, “Golden Arrows.” Previously, on April 8, 2023, President Murmu flew a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft from Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam, becoming the third President and the second female head of state to fly a fighter jet. Former Presidents APJ Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil had also flown a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
Along with the President, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh also demonstrated his flying prowess by flying another aircraft. The Rafale fighter jet, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force at the Ambala Air Force Station in September 2020.
The first five Rafale aircraft, which arrived from France on July 27, 2020, were inducted into the 17 Squadron, “Golden Arrows.” This jet is a vital part of the Air Force’s strength.
The Rafale jets were used in “Operation Sindoor”, which demonstrated their capabilities by destroying numerous terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled areas on May 7.