IAF open to Dhoni flying Sukhoi-30MKI

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni could become second cricketer after master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to light up the skies by flying a Sukhoi-30MKI, the most lethal fighter jet in the Indian Air Force.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni could become second cricketer after master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to light up the skies by flying a Sukhoi-30MKI, the most lethal fighter jet in the Indian Air Force.

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Dhoni was felicitated by the Air force on Monday in New Delhi. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal PV Naik presented him with a silver plaque.

The Indian Air Force is open to the idea of Dhoni flying a Sukhoi-30MKI, but the entire exercise depends on the skipper's availability, Air Chief Marshal Naik told ANI.

Dhoni had reportedly wished for a sortie in a fighter aicraft during Aero India 2011 in Bangalore.

"The clearance to fly takes time and afterwards it depends on the availability of the player," said a top IAF official.

Sachin, who joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the rank of Honorary Group Captain in September 2010, is still not able to fly due to his unavailability.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, said that Sachin would soon be flying sorties in Su-30MKI, and added that it depends on the master blaster to make himself available for this purpose.

The last VIP to fly tandem in a Sukhoi 30MKI was President Pratibha Patil on November 25, 2009, in Pune.