Bangalore: Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata on Thursday soared to new heights literally when he took off in a multi-role combat aircraft F-16 at the airshow here. Tata, 69, undertook the flight in co-pilot's seat which was commandeered by Paul Hattendorf, the test pilot of Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the aircraft. The jet belongs to Bloc 50 of the US Air Force. F-16, also known as Fighting Falcon, is in the race for Indian Air Force's mega plans of acquiring 126 multi-role combat aircraft. Lockheed has been lobbying hard to sell its jet to India. With this, Tata has now become the oldest Indian to fly the American-made aircraft. Tata, who holds a pilot's licence, had said the thought of the F-16 flight "excites me very much."
08/02/07 Times of India

Labels: F16, Lockheed Martin, Tata, US

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