Assam: President Draupadi Murmu takes Flight from the Sukhoi Fighter Jet
Country's 12th President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil had flown in Sukhoi in 2009
ASSAM: President Draupadi Murmu took a 30-minute flight in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft from Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam on Saturday. The Sukhoi jet took off at 11:08 am and landed at 11.38 am. She has become the second woman President of the country to fly in Sukhoi. Before her, former President Pratibha Singh Patil flew in Sukhoi as Co-Pilot.
The Air Force said that the aircraft was flown by 106 Squadron Commanding Officer Group Captain Naveen Kumar. Before take off, he was briefed about the aircraft and the operational capability of the Indian Air Force.
Before Murmu, country's 12th President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil had flown in Sukhoi in 2009. Pratibha Patil made two world records by flying in Sukhoi. First- First woman President of any country to fly in Sukhoi. Second - the oldest woman of any country. Pratibha Patil was then 74 years old. His name is also recorded in the Guinness Book.
Before Pratibha Patil, Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam has flown in Sukhoi on June 8, 2006 as President. He was the first President of the country to do so. Them, Pratibha Patil flew in Sukhoi. Now Draupadi Murmu has become the third President to do so.
Notably, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flew in a Sukhoi 30MKI on 17 January 2018, when she was the Defense Minister. She has become the first woman to fly in the country's most advanced fighter jet Sukhoi. She flew more than 8 thousand meters from Jodhpur airbase at a speed of 2100 kmph in Sukhoi 30MKI. She was in the sky for about 45 minutes.