The nation watched enthralled as President Pratibha Patil flew in the Su-30MKI—scripting history and inspiring the women aspiring to become fighter pilots

If an action is worth a thousand words, November 25, 2009 will go down in the annals of history as the day on which India stood enthralled by the message emanating from the country’s topmost echelon. President Pratibha Patil was on our collective thoughts and earned the nation’s enduring admiration for her unparalleled feat of flying the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft—the first woman Supreme Commander of India’s armed forces to do so. Fitted out in a G-Suit, the President presented a picture of poise as she took to the skies, ensconced in the rear seat of the aircraft, for the 30-minute sortie. “There was no apprehension, but there was excitement. Practicing yoga also helped me and I also followed the instructions given by the air force officials carefully. I was, right from the beginning, very confident,” she later enthused. The entire team at SP’s congratulates the esteemed President and extends our warm admiration for her dauntless spirit that has no doubt inspired the country’s aspiring women fighter pilots.

On a smaller, but nevertheless significant, measure, SP’s also took immense pride in its debut flight on the Phenom 100. Soaking in the luxurious décor and sophisticated environs of the business jet, one thought persisted: does India have the facilities and infrastructure to support operations by such an aircraft? Perhaps not, but it’s time for urgent remedial measures.

Urgency, meanwhile, is the buzzword for the Indian Air Force (IAF)—a fact reinforced by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik. “The IAF is transforming into a potent strategic force... In the coming decade, the IAF envisions itself to be a modern force with cutting edge technologies that is flexible, adaptable and has strategic reach to provide limitless options to India,” he assured us. An echo of his optimism rang through the fourth International Conference on Energizing Indian Aerospace Industry held in the capital on November 19 and 20. A common consensus that emerged from the discussions revolved around the need to develop indigenous capabilities and infrastructure for optimum utilisation of aerospace assets.

Elsewhere, the 11th edition of the Dubai Airshow proved to be a resounding success despite premonitions of economic doom—a welcome news of hope and resilience for the aviation industry in these difficult times.