Indian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore, who hails from Rajasthan, is all set to mark the history by becoming the first woman to lead the flypast at the Republic Day parade on January 26 at Delhi's Rajpath. Swati's achievement was lauded by everyone including her family and state leaders.
Swati’s Father Bhawani Singh Rathore, who is a Deputy Director in the state's Agriculture Department, posted in Ajmer, also appealed to all parents to help their daughters fulfil their dreams.
Here is all you need to know about her:
- Born in a small village named Prempura in Rajasthan's Nagaur district, Swati did her schooling from Ajmer. During her childhood, she made a tricolour in a painting competition, making evident her ardent love for her nation. Eventually, her parents pushed her to realise her dream and post-schooling, she joined the NCC Air Wing.
- To fulfil her dream of becoming an IAF pilot, after schooling, Rathore joined the NCC Air Wing. At the NCC, she won a gold medal in shooting and appeared for the Airforce Common Admission Test in 2013.
- She was selected in the IAF in her first attempt in 2014. Her brother is posted in the Merchant Navy.
- In 2013, Swati appeared in the Air Force Common Admission Test. Among 200 female students from all over the country, only 98 were selected for screening. Only five students were left after the screening, in which only she was selected for the flying branch.
- Rathore had also participated in a flypast on Air Force Day on October 8 last year. She was part of the rescue operation conducted by IAF during the 2018 Kerala floods.
- The 28-year-old IAF officer will be flying the Mi-17 V5 with Indian Air Force flag in a formation of four choppers. Rathore will be the only woman pilot in this formation of the flypast.