<p>Breaking yet another glass ceiling, two women officers have made their way into the IAF’s much-heralded helicopter display team ‘Sarang’.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Squadron Leader Deepika Misra and engineering officer Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Singh made their debut in the 'Aero India' air show here.<br /><br />It was during her passing out parade at Air Force Academy in December 2006 that Deepika Misra, then a Flight Cadet, first fell in love with the aerobatic displays by the ‘Surya Kirans’ and ‘Sarang’, IAF’s fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerobatic display teams respectively.<br /><br /> She imagined herself flying some day in either of the formation flying teams. Back then however, it seemed an impossible dream but she never gave up hope and prayed hard.<br /><br /> She was commissioned in the helicopter stream and posted to a Chetak/Cheetah helicopter unit.<br /><br />Women short service commissioned pilots were only permitted to fly these single engine helicopters then.<br /><br />Deepika felt extremely lucky when in 2010, the IAF made a a major policy shift to allow conversion of women pilots to twin-engine category of medium to heavy-lift helicopters.<br /><br />Having notched up nearly 1,600 hours on Chetak and Cheetah helicopters after her two stints at Bareilly and Udhampur, Deepika was more than ready when the opportunity came.<br /><br />IAF had meanwhile also sought volunteers from amongst women helicopter pilots to join the Sarang Team.<br /><br />She had no hesitation and promptly volunteered for the new challenge.</p>
<p>Breaking yet another glass ceiling, two women officers have made their way into the IAF’s much-heralded helicopter display team ‘Sarang’.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Squadron Leader Deepika Misra and engineering officer Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Singh made their debut in the 'Aero India' air show here.<br /><br />It was during her passing out parade at Air Force Academy in December 2006 that Deepika Misra, then a Flight Cadet, first fell in love with the aerobatic displays by the ‘Surya Kirans’ and ‘Sarang’, IAF’s fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerobatic display teams respectively.<br /><br /> She imagined herself flying some day in either of the formation flying teams. Back then however, it seemed an impossible dream but she never gave up hope and prayed hard.<br /><br /> She was commissioned in the helicopter stream and posted to a Chetak/Cheetah helicopter unit.<br /><br />Women short service commissioned pilots were only permitted to fly these single engine helicopters then.<br /><br />Deepika felt extremely lucky when in 2010, the IAF made a a major policy shift to allow conversion of women pilots to twin-engine category of medium to heavy-lift helicopters.<br /><br />Having notched up nearly 1,600 hours on Chetak and Cheetah helicopters after her two stints at Bareilly and Udhampur, Deepika was more than ready when the opportunity came.<br /><br />IAF had meanwhile also sought volunteers from amongst women helicopter pilots to join the Sarang Team.<br /><br />She had no hesitation and promptly volunteered for the new challenge.</p>