Ratan Tata Flies F-16 Fighter Jet

Ratan Tata added another feather to his cap, when he flied the F-16 Fighter Jet at the Aero India 2007 in Bangalore. Tata was invited by the US Embassy to take this honor. He undertook the flight in co-pilot's seat. Paul Hattendorf, the test pilot of Lockheed Martin commanded the aircraft. With this milestone, Tata became the oldest Indian to fly the American-made aircraft. It must be remembered that he flies the Falcon 200 owned by the Tata Group company.

Ratan Tata was recently in news when he sealed the $11.3 billion deal to buy Anglo-Dutch steel-maker Corus. Ahead of the flight, he has undergone medical check-up, briefing and ground training. Tata family is not new to aviation. The late JRD Tata is regarded as the father of India's civil aviation. He had launched the Tata Airlines in 1932, which was later nationalized in 1953 and became Air-India.