Highlighting the achievements of Women in Aviation, 'Women's Day' will be celebrated on Saturday (23 Feb) at the biennial Aero India 2019 expo. It is being held at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF), reported Tribune India. A big celebration on the cards as Asia's largest air show - the 12th edition "Aero India-2019" - is showcasing women achievers in the Aerospace sector.
Sixty-one aircraft are on display and 403 exhibitors are participating in the Aero India show this year. The five-day biennial air show will continue till February 24, 2019.
Showstopper: An all-women crew will fly Dornier and Avro aircraft
"The Women's Day will showcase women's achievements in the aerospace sector, an all-women crew will fly Dornier and Avro aircraft and participate in panel discussions at the venue," said an official.
"Three women IAF fighter pilots will also fly Hawk-I advanced jet trainer of BAE Systems plc and an upgraded version of the Russian-made MiG-21," said the official keeping the names of the officers anonymous.
Sixty-one aircraft are on display and 403 exhibitors are participating in the Aero India show this year.
Major Attraction: A probable cameo of PV Sindhu
The show on Saturday is expected to see major footfalls because of the speculation that PV Sindhu may be the show stopper, Inside Sport reported. The badminton ace is likely to co-pilot a light combat Tejas aircraft.
Should it happen, Sindhu will become the first woman ever to co-pilot the ‘indigenous iron bird’ Tejas. She will add a new leaf to the aviation history of India.
“Yes. We have been invited for the show in Bengaluru. We are waiting for the final programme,” Sindhu’s father P V Ramana has told Onmanorama The Week reported. “It’s a great honour for me to fly in a Tejas. It will be a proud moment and I am looking forward,” he said.
Also read: Special Feature: Women in Indian Armed Forces
Experience sharing by leading women in the Aerospace Sector
Women from the Aerospace sector will take centre-stage as they sit together to discuss 'Cyber Security in Aerospace.' The lady officers would share their journeys and experiences. Also, Women achievers in the sector will be felicitated and a book and film on 'Women in Aviation' will be released.
Indian Women in Aviation
India’s first set of women fighter pilots were commissioned in June 2017 at the prestigious Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad. The first three women who were inducted as fighter pilots in the IAF are Mohana Singh, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth. Later, a second batch of women fighter pilots has been commissioned too.
In February 2018, Officer Avani Chaturvedi scripted history and became the first Indian woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo, reported. She is one of India’s first women fighter pilots who broke through the glass ceiling, along with Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh.
Following the route, Flying officer Bhawana Kanth became the second woman pilot to fly a fighter aircraft solo.
Inducting women in combat roles was a major step forward for the Indian Air Force. Introducing Women Flying Officers and more pilots in the IAF was part of a bigger vision.
Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal, who hails from Chandigarh, scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman flight engineer to be inducted by the Indian Air Force. She completed the Flight Engineers’ course at 112 Helicopter Unit and placed at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bangalore.
The IAF is working towards gender equality and the women cadets are quick to seize the opportunity.
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