SOURCE: UNI
Ratan Tata died at age 86 at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday night after a brief illness. However, the industrialist, who is credited with transforming the Tata Group into a globally renowned conglomerate, has left behind a legacy that soars as high as his aviation exploits.
In February 2007, Ratan Tata, then 69 years old, co-piloted an F-16 fighter jet at the Aero India Show in Bengaluru.The opportunity was extended by United States defense contractor Lockheed Martin, recognizing Tata’s aviation prowess.
The Lockheed Martin pilot who guided Tata through the flight also shared his excitement.”He was absolutely thrilled. The highlight was when we flew at low altitudes-around 500 feet-at 600 knots. You get a real sense of how fast this aircraft can move,” the pilot recalled. Tata was presented with a miniature replica of the F-16 by Lockheed Martin officials as a token of his achievement.
During the flight, Tata piloted the F-16 through clear skies and even went as low as 500 feet.He called the experience “exhilarating,” adding, “You end up feeling very timid…We went down to around 500 ft of the deck and it flew around the topography, and it’s just unbelievable because you just climb over a hill and come down.”