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Feb 2007

'Pleased to have done it,' says Ratan Tata on F-16 flight
by Suman Sharma

     Bangalore: The Chairman of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata, today undertook a 30-minute sortie in a F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft here on the second day of the five-day sixth Aero India Show. The highest dignitary at the air show to be flown in the Lockheed Martin manufactured multi-role combat aircraft, Tata told reporters after the flight said, "It was a great flight. I am pleased to have done it." On February 6 in a press interaction here, the United States Ambassador to India David Mulford had said that it was a matter of pride for the Americans to fly the Chairman of the Tata Group. Mulford had also cleared the 69-year-old Tata's physical fitness for the flight. However, he added, that the controls may not be given to him to handle, and that the sortie would be made less strenuous. Colonel Jeff Paulk, the US air attachi to India had said that the speed would be kept comfortable. Forty-five-year-old Paul Hattendorf, a Lockheed Test pilot, who flew Tata said, "After five minutes of the beginning of the flight the controls were handed over to Mr. Tata, who did most of the maneuvering." Hattendorf with over 5000 hours of combat flying experience also added that gentle maneuvers along with aerobatics, 'air on rolls', high 'G', and acceleration at supersonic speeds were tried as part of the maneuvers. The speed was kept at 800 knots, which is 1.3 mach and the aircraft flew at a height of 18,000 feet. The aircraft which flew Tata is a Block-50 type aircraft of the United States Air Force, which is the latest version of the Lockheed Martin model. Lockheed Martin, which is pitching its F-16 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s 126 multi-role combat aircraft contract is reported to be bidding for the Block 50 type aircraft which was used for Tata's flight, which began at 1.45 p.m. and ended at 2.15 p.m. Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju who was present on the tarmac congratulated Tata along with top Lockheed officials, after the successful flight. Close to a 100 aircraft are participating in the show with around 40 in the international category, and 60 commercial aircraft.
-Feb 8, 2007