Thursday, June 8 2006 11:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pune: President A P J Abdul Kalam undertook a historic sortie in Sukhoi-30 MKI, the latest supersonic fighter aircraft, from Lohegaon airbase here this morning.

Wing Commander Ajay Rathore, Commanding Officer of the SU-30 MKI squadron flew the President.

Kalam donned the G-suit before boarding the aircraft.

He was also given certain instructions by the senior Air Force officials.

The President has undertaken the 30-minutes sortie with latest all-weather air dominance supersonic fighter for the first time.

Kalam, who is on a two-day visit to the historic city of Pune, entered the airbase at 09.15 hours.

He was received by Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani, Vice chief of the air (VCAS), Air Marshal P K Mehta, Air Officer Commanding in-Chief, South Western Air Command (SWAC) and Air Commodore M Banerjee, Air Officer Commanding Air Force Base, Pune.

Air Warriors of the airbase presented a ceremonial guard of honour to the President at the lightning squadron tarmac.

Two Sukhois will be accompanying Kalam and he will see how to locate the target in the air and the target on the ground with the help of radar, Air Commodore M Banerjee, told reporters.

Kalam will fly at the height of six to eight kms in the air and the speed will be 1500 kms per hour, Banerjee said.