Jaipur: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday took a sortie as co-pilot in Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ near the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district.
The LCH took off from the Jaisalmer Indian Air Force (IAF) station. Before the sortie, the captain briefed the president. Dressed in an olive green uniform and helmet, she waved from the cockpit before departing.
LCH ‘Prachand’ is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
During the flight, President Murmu — the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces — delivered a message to the nation from the cockpit. “Prachand helicopter is a powerful symbol of self-reliance. At this moment, I am flying over the Jaisalmer district. I extend my heartfelt greetings and deepest gratitude to our brave soldiers. A warm salute to you, Jai Hind, Jai Bharat,” she said.
Earlier, IAF Chief Air Marshal AP Singh welcomed the president at the IAF station.
The helicopter flew over the Pokharan firing range, where the IAF is scheduled to conduct its firepower demonstration, ‘Vayu Shakti’, on Friday evening. Murmu will witness the day-dusk-night demonstration.
The LCH Prachand is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter and has been built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Earlier in October last year, the President had taken a sortie in a Rafale aircraft at Air Force Station in Ambala (Haryana), becoming the first Indian president to have flown in two different fighter aircraft of the IAF.
Air Force Station, Ambala, is the first Air Force Station where Rafale aircraft arrived from Dassault Aviation Facility, France.
The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for approximately 30 minutes covering about 200 kilometers before returning to the Air Force Station. The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron. The aircraft flew at a height of about 15000 feet above sea level and at a speed of about 700 kilometers per hour.
The President was also briefed on the operational capabilities of Rafale and the Indian Air Force.
In April 2023, she undertook a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam, flying for about 30 minutes over the Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley with a view of the Himalayas.
