President not scared of flying in a warplane

"Why should I? I am the Supreme Commander (of the Armed Forces)," 74-year-old Patil said, when asked if she was scared to be air-borne in a warplane.

The President, who may set a world record by becoming the oldest woman to fly in a fighter jet aircraft at a speed close to the supersonic level, seemed fully confident of undertaking the journey from the 30 Squadron Base of the Air Force.

Patil told reporters at a function here yesterday that she was "looking forward" to her maiden flight in a SU-30 MKI on November 25.
The President, who will be sitting in the co-pilot's chamber in the cockpit, will be donning a special 'G-suit' worn by the fighter pilots to counter gravitational effect due to any high speed air manoeuvres.

The 30-minute flight has been designed specially for her with the aircraft being flown by Wing Commander S Sajan at sub-sonic speed of 0.9 Mach which is less than 1,000 km per hour whereas the supersonic levels start at Mach one, which is about 1,236 km per hour.