Tejas light combat aircraft (trainer version) was flown in Bengaluru by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha. Having had first-hand experience and feel of the aircraft Deputy Chief of Air Staff expressed that the aircraft handles well both on the ground and in the air. He was on a two-day visit to the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) during which, he took a review of various aspects of Tejas programme.

The first flight by a senior officer of the rank of Air Marshal from Air HQ was a joyous occasion for all the stakeholders of the programme such as ADA, HAL, National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), DGAQA and the IAF whose focused and synergised efforts contributed to the success of the project in large measures.

Expressing his happiness, P.S. Subramanyam, Programme Director (Combat Aircraft) and Director ADA, said, “This flight of Tejas by a senior IAF commander indicates a high degree of confidence in the indigenous light combat aircraft.”