By flying in the same jet formation, a father and daughter team just made Air Force history. At Air Force Station, Bidar on May 30, 2022, jet pilots Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and his daughter Ananya Sharma, who received her fighter pilot commission in December 2021, flew in the same formation of Hawk-132 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT).
Recently, Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and his daughter Ananya flew in the same formation. “Father-daughter duo created history on May 30, 2022, flew in same formation of Hawk-132 ace at AirForce Stn Bidar, where Flying Officer Ananya Sharma is completing training before graduating onto faster & more advanced fighter aircraft of @IAF MCC,” said IAF on Tuesday.
“A father and his daughter being in the same fighter formation on a mission has never happened before in the IAF,” it continued.
Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma received his commission in the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream in 1989. He has vast expertise in fighter operations and has held the command of both a frontline fighter station and a Mig-21 Squadron.
Ananya was chosen to receive training for the IAF’s flying branch after completing her B Tech in Electronics and Communication. According to the press release, she received her fighter pilot commission in December 2021. In 2016, the IAF’s fighter stream became open to women with the hiring of the first group of three female pilots.
