President Droupadi Murmu took a sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft at the Air Force Station in Ambala on Wednesday, becoming the first President of India to have flown in two fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). In 2023, she had taken a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft.

The Ambala Air Force Station holds special significance as it was the first base to receive the Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation’s facility in France.

The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for around 30 minutes, covering approximately 200 kilometres. The sortie was piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron. The aircraft reached an altitude of about 15,000 feet and clocked a speed of around 700 kilometres per hour.

After the flight, P

See Full Page