In a moment that etched her name into India’s military history, Avani Chaturvedi, a flying officer with the Indian Air Force, became the first Indian woman to fly a fighter jet solo. Her historic flight, a monumental achievement that broke a long-standing gender barrier, took place on February 19, 2018, from the Jamnagar Air Base in Gujarat.
The aircraft she commanded was the formidable MiG-21 Bison, a supersonic jet known for its high take-off and landing speeds. For 30 minutes, Chaturvedi expertly navigated the skies, completing her solo sortie with the same precision and courage as her male counterparts. Her success was a powerful affirmation of her resolve and a moment of immense national pride.
Chaturvedi, along with her two colleagues, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh, was part of the first batch of female pilots commissioned into the Indian Air Force fighter stream in June 2016. Her path to this historic flight was paved with rigorous training, pushing past physical and mental limits.
The achievement was a direct result of the Indian government’s 2015 decision to open the fighter stream to women on an experimental basis. While her initial four-month training on the advanced Hawk jet trainer prepared her for the rigors of solo flight, her desire to prove herself was what truly propelled her. “If you are in the air force and you get the chance to fly, then why not fly as the best?” she said, articulating the ambition that has defined her career.
Since that groundbreaking flight, Chaturvedi has continued to soar. In 2023, she became the first female fighter pilot from the IAF to take part in an aerial wargame abroad, participating in the “Veer Guardian 2023” joint exercise with Japan. Her journey from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, to the cockpit of a fighter jet serves as a powerful inspiration, proving that the sky is no longer the limit for women in India.
