Prisedent Pratibha Patil arrived in the city yesterday at around 4: 00 pm, a day before she flies the Sukhoi-30 MKI, the Indian Fighter Aircraft. She will be the first Indian Woman to fly the Sukoi. She will be accompanied by wing commander S Sajan. On Wenesday, President Patil will take off from the Lohegaon airbase.
A tight security at the airbase has been intensified with both civil and air force security personals positioned all over the airport. Air base will be open for civilians, public and students with prior permission on Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday was declared as an ‘open day’ for civilians and students to visit ,but later on it was cancelled citing the reasons that the airbase needs to be spruced before the president’s visit, so Thursday has been confirmed as an ‘ Open Day.’
President Patil will be the first woman president anywhere in the world to fly the Su-30 MKI. It will be a basic flight, not the kind of combat maneuvers that fighters generally do. It will more or less be similar to President Kalam’s Sukhoi flight in 2006 — except it will not be going supersonic
said IAF spokesperson T K Singha.
Informing about the security, he said that “Preparations have been made and all security arrangements are in place.”
While she has already gone through all the medical tests and been certified ‘medically fit’ to fly, she will undergo some tests before her flight on Wednesday again. It’s been 40 years completed for Sukhoi in service since its inception in the Indian Air force. The governor of Maharashtra S.C. Jamir will also be present there to see off President Patil at Lohegaon airbase along with the Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik and other officials.
Wing Commander S Sajan has over 3,200 hours of flying experience in various aircrafts, out of which more than 1,500 hours are on Sukhoi variants. He has been commended in the past by both Chief of Air Staff and Air officer commanding in Chief
said a defence spokesperson in a press release.
Sajan has vast experience to his credit and is a flying instructor. He has graduated from the Air Force Academy.
President Patil was warmly welcomed at the airbase by all the dignitaries such as Pawar and Mohan Joshi, Police Commissioner of Pune City Satyapal Singh and State Principal Secretary Sumit Malik were part of the delegation to receive the President.
Following are the functions Prez Patil is scheduled to visit-Bank of Maharashtra’s platinum jubilee celebration at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagriha followed by Pune Vidyarthi Gruha’s function on Thursday.
