When Ratan Tata flew an F-16 fighter jet over the skies of Bengaluru

New Delhi:

In February 2007, Ratan Tata took to the skies on a high-speed adventure that few would ever experience. At the Aero India Show in Bengaluru, Mr Tata, then 69, was invited by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin to co-pilot an F-16 fighter jet.

Mr Tata, who is known for his flying skills and holds both jet and helicopter licenses, seized the opportunity to fly the fighter aircraft as a co-pilot. Under the guidance of an experienced Lockheed Martin pilot, he took control during the half-hour flight. His flight through clear skies and reaching heights of up to 150 meters was described by Mr Tata as nothing short of “exhilarating”.

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When Mr Tata spoke to NDTV soon after his flight, he could not contain his excitement.

“You end up feeling very shy. We did a few things as the commander took command and took on some roles, and it was all very exciting. We went down to about 500 feet below the deck and it flew around the topography, and that's just incredible because you just climb over a hill and come down, turn on its side or flip over. It’s just unbelievable,” Mr Tata told NDTV.

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The Lockheed Martin pilot who accompanied Mr. Tata on the flight shared the excitement. “He was absolutely thrilled. The highlight was when we were flying at low altitude – about 500 feet – at 600 knots. “You get a real sense of how fast this plane can move,” the pilot recalls.

Upon landing, Mr. Tata was greeted by Lockheed Martin officials, who presented him with a miniature replica of the F-16. At the time, the American defense giant was competing with India for a major defense contract worth billions of dollars.

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But the F-16 wasn't Mr. Tata's only airborne conquest this week. The very next day he took to the skies again – this time in Boeing's F-18 Super Hornet. The F-18 is larger and more powerful than the F-16 and is a key element in the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier operations. For Mr Tata, who has long had a passion for aviation, flying two of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft back to back was a dream come true.

Mr Tata died on Wednesday at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital and will be cremated with full state honors today.