In an old yet captivating video from February 2007, at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru, Ratan Tata co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the age of 69 years.
The flight experience of the esteemed industrialist in the F-16 was witnessed under the expert guidance of a Lockheed Martin pilot, with whom he took control of the flight for 30 minutes. He flew through clear skies and hit the low altitudes of 500 feet, flying over hills and diverse landscapes.
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After the flight landed, Tata was accorded a warm welcome from Lockheed Martin officials, who presented him with a miniature replica of the F-16 as a memento of the unforgettable experience.
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The chairman of Tata Sons spoke to NDTV after the flight, and said, “You end up feeling very timid. We did a few things when the commander took over… It’s just unbelievable.”
Ratan Tata was a licensed pilot and had a passion for flying. He learned to fly at an early age and became the first Indian to fly the F-16 Falcon fighter jet in 2007.
Tata's airborne pursuits did not stop with the F-16. Back in 2011, he was in the air again, this time it was an advanced F/A-18 super hornet.
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