Varanasi’s Shivangi Singh To Be The First Woman To Join The Rafale’s ‘Golden Arrows’ Squadron
Shikha Chaurasia
New Delhi, September 26, 2020: Women are writing a new history by breaking all taboos. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is also witnessing a strong revolution. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is going to become the first female pilot of Rafale which is one of the world’s best-class combat aircraft. As Rafale replaces the MiG-21 ‘Bison’ in the Indian Air Force fleet, Shivangi will enter the new role.
Shivangi to switch to Rafale as soon as conversion training is complete
However, Flight Lt Shivangi Singh, who hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, will make a formal entry into the 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron at the Ambala base of the Air Force as soon as she completes her ‘conversion training’.
A pilot needs to take ‘conversion training’ to switch from one fighter jet to another fighter jet. However, flying the Rafale for Shivangi, who has flown the MiG-21s, will not be a challenging task as the MiG has the world’s fastest landing and take-off speed with 340 km per hour.
Shivangi Singh studied from BHU
Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh completed her graduation from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and is a part of the second batch of women pilots commissioned in 2017. The Indian Air Force has 10 women pilots flying the fighter planes who have undergone rigorous training to fly supersonic jets. A pilot’s training costs Rs 15 crore.
Shivangi has flown MiG fighter plane with Abhinandan Varthaman
Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh was earlier stationed at the forward fighter base in Rajasthan where she flew with Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Abhinandan was flying a MiG-21 aircraft and was chasing a Pakistani fighter jet which was trying to sneak into the Indian territory after the Balakot airstrike. In the process, his aircraft was shot down and he fell into the Pakistani territory and was taken captive. However, Pakistan had to release him honourably due to India’s warnings and international pressure.
