Tejas is best aircraft I’ve flown so far: Group Capt Ranga
Bengaluru, July 1: The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) got the biggest stamp of approval from the Indian Air Force (IAF) when the first Commanding Officer of No 45 Tejas Squadron -- Flying Daggers - showered praise on the home-grown fighter.
Interacting with the media at Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), after a brief display of Tejas, Group Captain Madhav Rangachari (Ranga) said: "This is easily the best aircraft I have flown. It is a pilot's delight."
Ranga was virtually mobbed by the media soon after he walked out of the fighter. To a query from OneIndia on being the first person to head the Tejas Squadron, Ranga said he is proud to be associated with the project.
"I
am
really
proud
of
being
part
of
the
Make
in
India
mission.
Happy
to
fly
Tejas
in
IAF
colours,"
Ranga
said.
Terming
the
fighter
as
an
'excellent
aircraft,' Ranga
hoped
that
the
Squadron
would
get
the
reaming
platforms
at
the
earliest
from
HAL.
"Tejas is best in its class with excellent onboard systems and avionics," said the ace pilot hailing from Srirangam in Tamil Nadu.
He said the avionics in Tejas is leagues ahead when compared to other contemporary aircraft of its kind in the world.
To
a
specific
query
on
how
best
was
Tejas
when
compared
to
the
MiGs
and
Mirages,
Ranga
said:
"Generation
ahead
of
Mirage,
MiG.
You
can't
compare
apples
with
oranges."
He
said
the
induction
of
Tejas
is
a
stepping
stone
in
the
history
of
India.
With around 3000 flying hours to his kitty, Ranga has flown the Mirage 2000 and MiG-21 before getting posted to ASTE.
"I have been flying Tejas for the past one year now and it has a lot of potential. It will surely do a great job for the IAF," the pilot said.
OneIndia News