1/10 - President Murmu takes sortie in Sukhoi fighter aircraft
President Murmu takes sortie in Sukhoi fighter aircraft
2/10 - Maiden sortie
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday took her maiden sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.
3/10 - A 30-minute flight
The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces flew for approximately 30 minutes covering Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley with a view of the Himalayas before returning to the Air Force Station.
4/10 - Bird’s eye view
The aircraft flew at a height of about two kilometres above sea level and at a speed of about 800 kilometres per hour. The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Naveen Kumar, Commanding Officer of the 106 Squadron.
5/10 - Only the 3rd President to undertake sortie
Murmu is the third president after APJ Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil to fly a sortie in a fighter aircraft.
6/10 - ‘An exhilarating experience’
It was an exhilarating experience for me to fly in the mighty Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft. It is a matter of pride that India\'s defence capabilities have expanded immensely to cover all the frontiers of land, Air and Sea, said the President.
7/10 - In the cockpit
After sitting in the cockpit, a woman officer helped the President put on the helmet and complete other technicalities. She waved from the cockpit just seconds before the aircraft canopy was shut.
8/10 - Significant step
The sortie from the Tezpur base assumes significance as it is bordering Arunachal Pradesh which China claims to be a part of its territory.
9/10 - Engagement with Armed Forces
The President\'s sortie in the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft is a part of her efforts to engage with the armed forces, as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
10/10 - Visit to INS Vikrant
In March 2023, the President visited INS Vikrant and interacted with officers and sailors on board the indigenously built aircraft.
