8220;We8217;ve hit a jackpot together8221;

Shreya is a jet fighter pilot flying MIG-21 Bis at I.A.F., Chandigarh. He flies at 800 kilometer per hour at 30-40,000 feet above ground, once twice daily. These half hour sorties are peak, raw adventures of man, machine and the heavens. Shreya is keenly aware of his responsibility for the whole infrastructure of personnel, costly machinery and his role in the defence of his country. He is proud of his organisation, uniform, his designation as a fighter pilot and the tremendous thrill of flying 8211; the character moulds and fulfillments that money cannot buy.

As for Supriya, as a little girl she would fleet the skies for airplanes and wistfully wish that she could fly. She smiles as she recalls Richard Bach8217;s words in Illusion8217;. quot;You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, howeverquot;. She is a transport pilot with I.A.F., Chandigarh, flying AN-32 Transport Aircraft frequently daily to the troubled areas of the Kashmir Valley, Ladakh, Line of Control with Pakistan and China. Flying to danger zones has roused in Supriya not fear but deep a humane sensitivity for comrades and a sense of shared responsibility for completing the mission successfully.

Professional hazards do occur. There have been some instances of bird-hit accidents where even a small bird sucked into the engine can damage it, costing the government Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crores.

Once during Shreya8217;s training in Allahabad, the engine failed in stormy weather while he was flying an HPT-32 Trainer Craft 2-seater with his instructor. However, the duo skillfully glided down and landed safely. Once Supriya8217;s night flight to Awantipur near Srinagar was dogged by clouds and rain around 11 p.m. The Air Traffic Control in Awantipur did not have advanced radar aids and relying solely on weather radar equipment in the aircraft, they maneuvered safe landing and taking off.

The IAF has opened wonderful new horizons for Supriya in flying, meeting challenges and discovering her potential strengths. She has travelled the length and breadth of India on missions and met many people.

Shreya8217;s ambition is to fly the Mirage 2000 while both very much wish to participate some day in space exploration and land on the moon.Married for a year now, Shreya and Supriya met at the Air Force Academy in Hydrabad and fell in love. As both are pilots with challenge in daily routines, they cherish their evenings together at their home in Sector 31, relaxing, sharing their day8217;s experiences, reading, jogging, doing household chores, often on sandwiches and soup, and take-aways. Their relationship has no stereo-type image of a wife/husband role. While appreciating each others8217; qualities of grit, they give each other a lot of space. They socialise, play tambola and sports, enjoy music, dancing, walking along the Lake or driving off on their mobike to the hills.

quot;Flying is our passion. Thrilling adventure every day mixed with strong human values and close bonding of families is a very rare combination. We enjoy tremendous job satisfaction. Plus we found each otherquot;, says Supriya joyfully and Shreya seals it with, quot;We8217;ve hit a jackpot together.quot;