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Flying high in a Sukhoi

Pune June 22. Sporting the anti-gravity `G-suit', the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, today created history when he undertook a sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI travelling 1.2 times the speed of sound from the Lohegaon Air Force station near here.

After undergoing the mandatory medical test, Mr. Fernandes climbed up the aircraft at 8.15 a.m., where he was briefed about the operations by Nirmal Singh who flew the aircraft.

The major difficulties a pilot of the aircraft faces are the `G-factor', physical exertion and physiological discomforts because of gravity.

After take-off, the aircraft climbed over the airfield, headed eastwards and accelerated to 1.2 times the speed of sound.

Mr. Fernandes was shown the extremely long-range new generation multi-mode radar that is fitted on the Su-30 MK.

He was also acquainted with the various displays in the aircraft's modern ``glass cockpit'' as well as the avionics systems.

After the exercise, the aircraft ``joined up'' in ``close formation'' with another aircraft maintaining ``Echelon Position''.

Both the aircraft then rejoined in ``close formation'' and came over the airfield and then made a ``peel off'' before landing.

Coming out of the aircraft, Mr. Fernandes told reporters that ``it was a great lesson for me. I had heard about the G-factor.

``But today I could actually feel it and it has given me a better understanding about the problems being faced by pilots''.

Wing Commander Nirmal Singh told reporters that despite the G-factor the Defence Minister was ``as comfortable in the aircraft as fish in water''. — PTI

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