A first in the IAF: Father-daughter duo fly in formation

Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and his daughter Flying Officer Ananya Sharma created history when they flew in formation in a Hawk-132 aircraft at Air Force Station Bidar in Karnataka. 

Image: Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma with his daughter Flying Officer Ananya Sharma

Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and his daughter Flying Officer Ananya Sharma created history when they flew in formation in a Hawk-132 aircraft at Air Force Station Bidar in Karnataka. 

Flying Officer Ananya Sharma, who has been undergoing her training at Air Force Station Bidar, was commissioned into the force in December last year. 

After her training, she will be deployed onto faster and more superior fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

Image: Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma with his daughter Flying Officer Ananya Sharma

This is the first time a father and his daughter have been a part of the same fighter formation for a mission. 

"It was the mission where Air Commodore Sanjay and Flying Officer Ananya were more than just father and daughter. They were comrades, who had full faith in each other as fellow wingmen would," an Indian Air Force official said.

Image: Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma with his daughter Flying Officer Ananya Sharma

Having an extensive experience in fighter operations, Air Commodore Sharna was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in 1989. He had commanded a Mig-21 Squadron as well as a frontline fighter station.

Ananya grew up in an environment where she would have imagined being part of it. When the government announced to induct women officers into the fighter stream of the force, she saw that her lifelong dream could now be a possibility. 

A B-Tech in Electronics and Communication, she was selected for training for the flying branch of IAF in 2021.