THANE: Roshni Iyer, a 23-year-old Thane resident, has made her city proud on being commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
She is said to be among 15 women fighter pilots in the force, said sources.
Iyer had dreamt of serving the nation since a very young age. She aspired to be a fighter pilot and always focused on her studies to achieve her goal with a good academic record.
Iyer said, “Being a part of the Indian Air Force is a way of life. It is not just about being a pilot but the greater motto is to live for and serve the nation.”
Her father, Ravi Iyer, told TOI: “We are proud of her and I feel all children should pursue their passion. We have also supported her throughout and want to see her serving the nation.”
Iyer was inspired by former President late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam |, who was an aerospace scientist. Following her graduation in aerospace engineering, she was admitted to the Air Force Academy through AFCAT. She trained for a year and a half at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal, Telangana, said sources.
It is learnt that Iyer did her schooling from Lok Puram Public School, Thane, and was a national level athlete, having represented Maharashtra in 400-metre hurdles, and has also won state level gold medals, said sources. Not just athletics, Iyer has pursued other diverse hobbies such as reading, trekking and painting with watercolours and oil pastels on canvas as well.
Thane, called a city of lakes, can now proudly be known for having produced pilots for the Indian Air Force, said local residents. Along with Iyer, there are two male pilots from a Thane school this year—flying officers 24-year-old P S Gautam (fighters) and 22-year-old Jordan Sequeira (helicopter), said sources.
The first three women to be commissioned as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force were Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kant and Flight Lieutenant Mohana Singh, in 2016.
She is said to be among 15 women fighter pilots in the force, said sources.
Iyer had dreamt of serving the nation since a very young age. She aspired to be a fighter pilot and always focused on her studies to achieve her goal with a good academic record.
Iyer said, “Being a part of the Indian Air Force is a way of life. It is not just about being a pilot but the greater motto is to live for and serve the nation.”
Her father, Ravi Iyer, told TOI: “We are proud of her and I feel all children should pursue their passion. We have also supported her throughout and want to see her serving the nation.”
Iyer was inspired by former President late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam |, who was an aerospace scientist. Following her graduation in aerospace engineering, she was admitted to the Air Force Academy through AFCAT. She trained for a year and a half at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal, Telangana, said sources.
It is learnt that Iyer did her schooling from Lok Puram Public School, Thane, and was a national level athlete, having represented Maharashtra in 400-metre hurdles, and has also won state level gold medals, said sources. Not just athletics, Iyer has pursued other diverse hobbies such as reading, trekking and painting with watercolours and oil pastels on canvas as well.
Thane, called a city of lakes, can now proudly be known for having produced pilots for the Indian Air Force, said local residents. Along with Iyer, there are two male pilots from a Thane school this year—flying officers 24-year-old P S Gautam (fighters) and 22-year-old Jordan Sequeira (helicopter), said sources.
The first three women to be commissioned as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force were Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kant and Flight Lieutenant Mohana Singh, in 2016.
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