Kashmir: Ayesha Aziz may become first Indian woman to fly MIG-29

JAMMU: 21-year-old, Ayesha Aziz may become youngest Kashmiri to fly pilot an aircraft. Hopefully she may also become first Indian woman to fly MIG-29 fighter jet at Russia’s Sokul airbase.

 

Ayesha realized her dream of becoming a pilot when she got her commercial license last week.
“I want to reach the edge of space, for which we are talking terms with the Russian agency to fly the MIG-29,” Ayesha said.
“So, that is going to be the next expedition – to fly the MIG-29 fighter jet,” she added.

Ayesha received training while she was still in school. At 16, she was given a student pilot licence by the prestigious Bombay Flying Club. In 2012, she completed a two-month advanced space training course at NASA. She was among the three Indians chosen. Her inspiration is Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams.

Ayesha’s mother belongs to the Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir while her father is from Mumbai in Maharashtra.
“I am proud of her achievements. We want her to go higher and higher. She is my idol and she motives me,”said Areeb Lokhandwala, Ayesha’s brother.
“My message for Kashmiri girls would be to chase their dreams, to not let anything let them down, have goals in your life and achieve them”, said Ayesha.