Click to play videoNew Delhi: Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata took off to the skies in a Boeing F-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft as a co-pilot from the Yelahanka Airbase on the outskirts of Bangalore on Friday where the Aero India Show 2007 is being held.
Tata is participating in the show where top fighter craft manufacturers are trying to clinch the Indian Airforces' 126 fighter jet order. This is his second such flight in two days.
The Super Hornet took to the skies at around 9:00 am (IST) from the Yelahanka Airforce station.
The $70 million Fighter jet, manufactured by Boeing, is a twin-engine, multi-mission, tactical aircraft.
Sixty-year-old Tata flew in a Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft in a flight that lasted 50 minutes on Thursday.
After landing safely he said, “I really enjoyed today. We loitered around the area waiting to come down. This is a twin engine plane and was more powerful.”
Tata had earlier spoken to CNN-IBN in an exclusive interview about his experience after successfully completed a half-hour sortie aboard the F-16 fighter jet on Thursday.
Priyanjana Dutta: How was the experience?
Ratan Tata: It was exhilarating.
Priyanjana Dutta: You touched the 132 mark and that is supersonic, how did it feel?
Ratan Tata: Not very different when accelerating there was a lot of noise and then again decelerated. It was as if someone punched the brakes.
Priyanjana Dutta: What safety procedures were u put thru before?
Ratan Tata: What to do if there is a fire or if we have to eject. We have to take basic safety procedures.
Priyanjana Dutta: Were you confident?
Ratan Tata: Yes, very confident.
Priyanjana Dutta: Are you happy to be on ground?
Ratan Tata: No, I wish we could go up again.
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