Flight in Sukhoi-30 fulfilled a long cherished dream:Kalam

Wellington, Tamil Nadu, Feb 24 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today said his flight in the Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft in June last year marked the fulfillment of a ''long cherished dream'' in his life.

Sharing his experience on his 36-minute sortie in the combat aircraft on June 8 last year, Dr Kalam, addressing the students and faculty of the Defence Service Staff College here, said it also help him realise how the air warriors were engaged in the defence of India's national airspace and land.

''It was a dream for me since 1958 when I became an engineer, to fly in a fighter aircraft'', he said and added that after strapping on, the frontline fighter took off and soared to a height of 25,000 feet flying at a speed of over 1200 kms per hour.

He said Wing Commander Ajay Rathore gave him lessons on how to fly. ''He was my friend and teacher who taught me successfully how to pilot the plane as well as handle warfare control of the fighter''.

''When Wing Commander Rathore allowed me to turn the Sukhoi to left and then to the right, I experienced 2.5 g, of course with a g-suit. I could experience the banking of the Sukhoi to the left and right going up and down before landing'', he recalled.

''During the sortie I tried to understand various subsystems of the aircraft developed by Indian scientists which have been integrated with this aircraft. I was very happy to see the indigenously built mission computers, radar warning receivers, IFF and display processors in the aircraft. I was also shown how to locate the target in the air and on the ground with the help of synthetic aperture radar'', he said and added ''I felt the fulfillment of a great aim and long cherished dream of my life.'' MORE UNI