Historic Heights: President Murmu's Unforgettable Rafale Sortie

President Droupadi Murmu made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Indian President to fly in two different fighter aircraft from the Indian Air Force (IAF). Her recent sortie in a Rafale jet from the Ambala Air Force Station was described as an 'unforgettable' experience.

Donning a G-suit, the President experienced a 30-minute flight reaching altitudes of 15,000 feet with a speed of 700 km/h. The sortie was flown by Group Captain Amit Gehani. Sharing her excitement, President Murmu expressed pride in the nation's defense capabilities, terming the experience as a reaffirmation of her faith in the military.

The flight also marked President Murmu's precedence following Presidents A P J Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil's flights in a Sukhoi 30 MKI. Accompanying her journey were Air Chief Marshal A P Singh and Haryana Minister Anil Vij, underscoring the symbolic importance of the occasion for India's defense narrative.