President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday scripted history by taking a sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft at the Indian Air Force’s Ambala Air Base, becoming the first President of India to fly in two different IAF fighter jets.
The President’s flight lasted about 30 minutes, during which the aircraft covered nearly 200 kilometres. The sortie was piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the elite 17 Squadron, famously known as the “Golden Arrows.” The jet flew at an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet and a speed of 700 km/h.
Expressing her excitement, President Murmu penned in the Air Force Station’s visitor book:
“I am delighted to visit Air Force Station Ambala for my maiden flight on Rafale aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This flight has instilled a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station Ambala for successfully organising the sortie.”
Before the flight, President Murmu donned a G-suit and helmet, posing for photographs alongside the pilot. She was also given a detailed briefing on the operational capabilities and strategic importance of the Rafale fleet.
This marks President Murmu’s second flight in an IAF fighter jet — her first being a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam on April 8, 2023.
The French-origin Rafale jets, inducted into the Indian Air Force on September 10, 2020, are among the most advanced fourth-generation multirole fighters in the world. They played a key role during Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
President Murmu’s historic sortie underscores India’s growing air power and the pivotal role of women leaders in symbolising national strength and pride.
