Pune, June 22: Defence minister George Fernandes, who has refused to don formal suits even at his meeting with foreign heads of state, today shed his favourite `kurta pyjama' and wore the anti-gravity suit to undertake his historic fighter sortie in SU-30 MKI from Lohegaon Air Force Station near here. After undergoing mandatory medical test, the Defence Minister climbed the aircraft at 8.15 am. The twin-seater fighter aircraft was flown by Wing Commander Nirmal Singh Jamwal.

As any fighter pilot, Fernandes received his pre-flight meals and then changed over to the g-suit for flying. The Defence Minister would be on board the frontline fighter aircraft for atleast 40 minutes, the IAF officials said.
Before take off, the aircraft took a super sonic run and then zoomed up in to the sky.

Bureau Report