Who is Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, the IAF woman pilot who will fly MiG-21 at send-off ceremony?

Who is Squadron Leader Priya Sharma

A 2018 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Squadron Leader Sharma is only the seventh woman fighter pilot of the IAF. She received her graduation certificate from the then Army Chief Bipin Rawat, and officially became the part of IAF as a Flying Officer.

Priya Sharma followed in her father’s footsteps to become an IAF officer. (Photo: ANI/ File)

Hailing from Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, Priya Sharma followed in her father’s footsteps to become an IAF officer.

An engineer by qualification, Sharma was the only woman fighter pilot in the 2018 batch and was initially posted at the Hakimpet Air Force Station in Hyderabad, followed by the Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka, where she underwent Stage 2 and Stage 3 advanced training.

According to Squadron Leader Sharma, she was inspired to become a fighter pilot after seeing Jaguars and Hawk aircraft flying since her childhood, when her father was posted in the Air Force station Bidar.

Squadron Leader Priya Sharma at MiG-21 farewell

In August this year, Squadron Leader Sharma also flew in formation during the IAF Chief’s MiG-21 farewell sorties at the Nal Air Force Station, Bikaner.

On Friday, Sqn Ldr Priya Sharma will once again join the Chief of the Air Staff and other IAF pilots as the MiG-21’s take to the sky for one last time.

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