Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday became the second woman politician to fly in a Su - 30 fighter jet.
Here is a list of political leaders who earlier flew in the Sukhoi 30 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force.
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam - - When then President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam flew in a Su - 30 in June 2003, he became the first head of state in India to fly in a fighter aircraft.
Kalam, who was an eminent scientist, had flown the plane along with his co - pilot, and later said he became a scientist only because he could not become a pilot.
He was 74 years old at the time.
George Fernandes - - In June 2003, then Defence Minister George Fernandes put on the flying suit and took off in a Su - 30 fighter jet from Lohegaon Air Force Station near Pune.
He was 73 years old at the time.
Pratibha Devisingh Patil - - Then President Pratibha Patil flew in a Su - 30 in November 2009 from the Indian Air Force Base in Lohegaon.
Rao Inderjit Singh - - Then Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh flew in a Su - 30 from Hindon air base, near Delhi, in August 2015.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy - - The BJP leader, who is a trained pilot, flew a Su - 30 in February 2015 at the Aero India show in Bengaluru.
Kiren Rijiju - - The Minister of State for Home flew in a Su - 30 from Halwara airbase in Punjab in May 2016.
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