29 October 2025 was a day full of glory and pride in the history of the Indian Air Force. On this day, President Draupadi Murmu flew in Rafale fighter aircraft from Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana and along with her was Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh’s Rafale was also flying in the sky.
The aircraft of President Draupadi Murmu and Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief were flying together in the same formation and the interesting thing was that both Rafale jets were armed with missiles. Seeing this scene, Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir will be shocked.
According to the Air Force, this was the operational configuration, which shows the actual combat capability and mission ready status of Rafale.
President Draupadi Murmu was in the rear cockpit of the main Rafale aircraft, while the aircraft was being flown by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17th Squadron Golden Arrows.
In the second Rafale flying parallel, Air Force Chief (Chief of Air Staff) Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh was on board, who was sitting in the rear cockpit of his Rafale (trailing aircraft rear cockpit).
President Draupadi Murmu flew in Rafale fighter aircraft from the Air Force station located in Ambala, Haryana on Wednesday (29 October 2025) and described it as an unforgettable experience. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh also flew in a different aircraft from the same airbase. President Murmu has become the first President of India to fly in two fighter planes.
In April 2023, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Murmu flew a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam. The President wore a G-suit before boarding the Rafale aircraft. Murmu, carrying a helmet in his hand and wearing sunglasses, also posed for photographs with the pilot.
Before the plane took off, the President waved to him from inside the plane. The plane flew for about 30 minutes and returned to the Air Force station after covering a distance of about 200 kilometers.
This information was given in the statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Rafale aircraft flew at a height of about 15,000 feet above sea level and at a speed of about 700 kilometers per hour. On reaching the Air Force station, the President was also given a formal ‘Guard of Honour’.
The President later wrote in the visitor’s book, ‘I am very happy to reach Ambala Air Force Station and take my first flight in the Rafale aircraft of the Air Force. Flying in Rafale was an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight on this powerful aircraft has awakened in me a new sense of pride in the defense capabilities of the country.
Published at : 29 Oct 2025 10:19 PM (IST)
