Delhi, 29 October (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu declared on Wednesday that her flight in a Rafale fighter jet had filled her with a renewed sense of pride in India's defense capabilities. Following the sortie, the President was also briefed on the operational strengths of both the Rafale aircraft and the Indian Air Force.
This flight marks a historic milestone, making President Murmu the first President of India to have flown in two different types of combat aircraft. She had previously completed a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023.
As the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, the President's flight lasted for approximately 30 minutes, during which she covered a distance of about 200 kilometers. The aircraft, piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, the Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron, reached an altitude of roughly 15,000 feet above sea level and a speed of nearly 700 kilometers per hour.
Later, the President expressed her feelings in a brief note written in the visitor's book. I am extremely pleased to visit Air Force Station Ambala for my first flight in the Indian Air Force's Rafale aircraft, she wrote.
Flying in the Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight in the powerful Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation's defense capabilities. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team at Air Force Station, Ambala, for the successful organization of this flight.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
