Ratan Tata pilots F-16 at Aero India

The Tata group chairperson co-pilots the multi-role combat aircraft F-16 at the Aero India show in a 40-min sortie.

Tata group chairperson Ratan Tata took to the skies on Thursday as a co-pilot in the multi-role combat aircraft F-16 at the Aero India show in Bangalore. The sortie lasted for about 40 minutes.

HT Image

The F-16 Block 50 was piloted by Paul Hattemdorf, a chief test pilot of Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the fighter aircraft.

"It was good. A great experience flying F-16," were the 69-year-old Tata's first words after he emerged from the cockpit at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the venue of the international air-show.

Seated behind Hattemdorf in the tandem fighter, Tata had the controls for a good portion of time.

"He did well handling the fighter. He had a wonderful time," Hattemdorf said.