Overview
- The Indian Air Force chief allowed NCC Senior Wing cadet Jakkula Tejasvi Reddy to fly under supervision on October 20 during a sortie at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, sources including the IAF confirmed.
- Pre-flight checks included cockpit familiarisation, medical screening, safety and ejection-procedure briefings, and the chief personally explained the Kiran trainer’s systems before takeoff.
- During the roughly 35–40 minute flight the cadet was given partial control to practise manoeuvres while the Air Chief supervised and guided her through turns and flight angles.
- Coverage notes the sortie was presented as youth outreach ahead of Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh’s retirement later in October and his related final flying sorties; one outlet reported the cadet was the first NCC member to fly with a serving CAS but that claim has limited independent corroboration.
- The Kiran HJT-16 is a basic trainer used at the AFA to give cadets early flight experience, and the IAF and NCC framed the event as part of broader efforts to promote aviation careers and practical training for youth.