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Women pilots conquer the skies: The Hindustan Times
Women pilots have left a blazing trail at the Air Race India-2003 which marked the centennial of the world`s first manned flight by the Wright brothers.
Women pilots have left a blazing trail at the Air Race India-2003 which marked the centennial of the world's first manned flight by the Wright brothers.
The skies erupted in a kaleidoscope of colour on Sunday as Surya Kirans, Sukhois and Mirages did magic manoeuvres over the Sonegaon airbase, Nagpur, to mark the grand finale of India's maiden air race. Flying crisscross, 50 aircraft ranging from microlights to jets had taken off simultaneously on November 20 from Barrackpore in the east, Bangalore in the south and Goa in the west to culminate at Nagpur. It was the thrill of competition, the spirit of adventure and daredevilry that kept the pilots going amid turbulent weather for over four days amid minor refuelling halts. And at the end of the day, it was the women pilots who came out with flying colours.
As prizes were given away by Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani on Sunday, the cynosure of all eyes was a diminutive glider pilot, Audrey Maben, who flew solo on her microlight from Bangalore and touched down safely at Nagpur. All alone in the cockpit, she had to weather strong winds to see her dream come true. "I was competing with myself. A microlight cannot match the speed of other planes," she said. Audrey, who has 120 hours of flying experience, trains children at the Bangalore Aerosports Institute.
Flight Lt. Karishma Bhalla, who won the first prize in the heavy aircraft category, says, “I fly every day, but the race was a learning experience. It involved tremendous concentration, strategising and mental strength to overtake others in mid-air and win." Adept at flying the Dornier, Karishma has done over 1,500 hours of flying and dreams of becoming fighter pilot. "If the government allows women, we can compete with just anybody else," she says with confidence.
Age is no bar for Lakshata Prashar, a Class X student of Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute, New Delhi. She is thrilled after flying the Zen Air Microlight with her father Group Captain N.K. Parashar and winning a prize. Trained at the Hindon IAF station, she dreams of joining the IAF.
Ask Flight Lt. Namrata Chaturvedi about the thrills of navigating a chopper. Flying a Chetak with elan, she stood first in the helicopter category. Copters are the most versatile flying machines and it's sheer excitement in the air, she says.
These daring women have conquered the skies and are raring for more.
The skies erupted in a kaleidoscope of colour on Sunday as Surya Kirans, Sukhois and Mirages did magic manoeuvres over the Sonegaon airbase, Nagpur, to mark the grand finale of India's maiden air race. Flying crisscross, 50 aircraft ranging from microlights to jets had taken off simultaneously on November 20 from Barrackpore in the east, Bangalore in the south and Goa in the west to culminate at Nagpur. It was the thrill of competition, the spirit of adventure and daredevilry that kept the pilots going amid turbulent weather for over four days amid minor refuelling halts. And at the end of the day, it was the women pilots who came out with flying colours.
As prizes were given away by Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani on Sunday, the cynosure of all eyes was a diminutive glider pilot, Audrey Maben, who flew solo on her microlight from Bangalore and touched down safely at Nagpur. All alone in the cockpit, she had to weather strong winds to see her dream come true. "I was competing with myself. A microlight cannot match the speed of other planes," she said. Audrey, who has 120 hours of flying experience, trains children at the Bangalore Aerosports Institute.
Flight Lt. Karishma Bhalla, who won the first prize in the heavy aircraft category, says, “I fly every day, but the race was a learning experience. It involved tremendous concentration, strategising and mental strength to overtake others in mid-air and win." Adept at flying the Dornier, Karishma has done over 1,500 hours of flying and dreams of becoming fighter pilot. "If the government allows women, we can compete with just anybody else," she says with confidence.
Age is no bar for Lakshata Prashar, a Class X student of Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute, New Delhi. She is thrilled after flying the Zen Air Microlight with her father Group Captain N.K. Parashar and winning a prize. Trained at the Hindon IAF station, she dreams of joining the IAF.
Ask Flight Lt. Namrata Chaturvedi about the thrills of navigating a chopper. Flying a Chetak with elan, she stood first in the helicopter category. Copters are the most versatile flying machines and it's sheer excitement in the air, she says.
These daring women have conquered the skies and are raring for more.