The defence minister of Singapore Ng Eng Hen on Tuesday flew a sortie in the light combat aircraft at the Indian Air Force base at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. The minister is on a day’s visit to Kalaikunda. He was received by Air Marshal, the air officer commanding-in-chief of the eastern air command, Anil Khosla. He was flown in Tejas, the first indigenous aircraft of Indian Air Force.
Interestingly, the project director for flight testing at the aeronautical development agency, Air vice marshal A.P. Singh was the pilot who flew the visiting dignitary in the light combat aircraft.
The minister also met and interacted with the detachment commander and other officers and men of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, who had already been at Kalaikunda to receive the minister. The Singapore force is stationed in Kalaikunda air base to receive training from their Indian counterparts. They would also impart their specialised training to Indian force.
The joint military training is scheduled to start next week where Singapore Air Force would fly their F-16s and Indian air force would fly Su-30.
Hen praised the professionalism of the Indian Air Force and expressed hope that military cooperation between two countries would continue.
Air Marshal Khosla said, “The joint military training provides a unique platform for mutual learning and exchange of ideas between the two professional air forces.”
“For 45 minutes, I placed my life in the hands of Air Vice Marshall A.P. Singh as we flew 20,000 ft above the skies in the IAF’s new fighter plane - Tejas. I have never met him before but my own air force, in Singapore who have been trained regularly with Indian air force pilots, say he is among the best,” said Hen.
“So, as suggested by my air force, I decided to fly and it was easy for me. The plane ride was so smooth that despite the G-turns and manoevers, I managed to take a few selfies,” said the minister with a grin.
