Tendulkar, Dhoni to fly in Sukhoi combat jets
June 30th, 2011 - 9:45 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) India’s cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will soon add another feather to their caps by flying in the Indian Air Force’s frontline Sukhoi combat planes.
The defence ministry has given its nod for the two cricketing stars ride on the fighter jet, most likely from its homebase of Lohegaon near Pune, Maharashtra, an IAF officer said here Thursday.
“The defence ministry has approved the proposal for Tendulkar and Dhoni to fly in the Su-30MKI jets,” the officer said.
“The flights will most probably take place in Pune,” the officer added.
The dates of the flights are yet to be finalised, as both the members of the Indian cricket team will have to be free from their commitments with the side.
Tendulkar has already been conferred with the honorary rank of an IAF group captain, which is equivalent to that of a colonel in the army. Dhoni has been offered the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel.
Dhoni is captaining the Indian team on a three Test series in the West Indies. Tendulkar, who was rested for the series, is on a personal visit to Britain, where he will join the team for a Test and ODI series in England.
The armed forces have in recent years honoured India’s 1983 cricket World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev and Malayalam film star Mohan Lal with honorary ranks of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army.
President Pratibha Patil, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, and her predecessor, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, have previously flown in the supersonic SU-30 air superiority fighter jet of Russian orgin.
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- Group Captain Sachin Tendulkar wishes to fly SU-30MKI - Sep 03, 2010
- Dhoni, Bindra to don olive green from Tuesday - Oct 31, 2011
- Dhoni, Bindra join elite group as honorary Lt. Colonels - Nov 01, 2011
- Dhoni accepts offer to join Indian Army - Apr 05, 2011
- Dhoni to spend time with soldiers in Kashmir - Jun 01, 2012
- IAF Sukhoi jet crashes near Pune, pilots safe - Dec 13, 2011
- IAF Sukhoi jet crashes near Pune, pilots safe (Third Lead) - Dec 13, 2011
- Sukhoi skids at Pune airport, flights hit - Apr 19, 2012
- Yet another MiG-21 crashes, pilot bails out - Oct 07, 2011
- President to fly in Sukhoi Nov 25 - Nov 10, 2009
- Dhoni to fly in frontline Sukhoi fighter - Apr 05, 2011
- Dhoni to don army uniform - Apr 05, 2011
Tags: abdul kalam, air superiority fighter, combat jets, combat planes, cricket world cup, defence ministry, fighter jet, group captain, homebase, indian air force, indian cricket team, kapil dev, lieutenant colonel, mahendra singh dhoni, malayalam film, mohan lal, odi series, president pratibha patil, sachin tendulkar, territorial army