The MiG-21 is set to depart from the Indian Air Force. In Chandigarh, the fighter plane will be bid farewell after more than 60 years. Air Force Squadron Leader Priya Sharma will be among the pilots who will fly the MiG-21 for the last time.
After serving the Air Force for six decades, the iconic MiG-21 fighter plane is set to retire on September 26th. The fighter plane will be given a final farewell from the Chandigarh Airbase. A ceremony will be organized for this purpose. In this ceremony, the MiG-21 fighter plane will fly in the Badal and Panther formation for the last time. Significantly, Air Force Chief Air Marshal AP Singh will fly the last sortie of the squadron named ‘Badal 3’ on this occasion. A female pilot will also participate in the farewell of the MiG-21.
Who is Squadron Leader Priya Sharma?
Squadron Leader Priya Sharma will be among the pilots who will take part in the ceremonial MiG-21 flypast. Priya Sharma also flew in the full dress rehearsal on Wednesday. The six jets from 23 Squadron participating in the farewell ceremony will receive a water cannon salute upon landing. Female pilot Priya Sharma will play a key role in this historic moment. Priya Sharma is the country’s 7th female fighter pilot.
Priya graduated from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. She received her graduation certificate from then-Army Chief Bipin Rawat. After this, she officially joined the Indian Air Force as a flying officer.
Inspired by watching Jaguar and Hawk aircraft fly
Priya Sharma hails from Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan. Inspired by her father, she became an Air Force officer. Having studied engineering, Priya was the only female fighter pilot in the 2018 batch. She was initially posted at Hakimpet Air Force Station in Hyderabad.
She then received advanced Stage 2 and Stage 3 training at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka. According to Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, watching Jaguar and Hawk aircraft fly since childhood inspired her to become a fighter pilot.
