PTI
New Delhi, May 24: After his maiden venture in a submarine, the first citizen of the country A P J Abdul Kalam wants to span the sky in a frontline fighter aircraft to become the first President to do so.
"Kalam, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has expressed desire to fly in a fighter aircraft," according to top Defence Ministry officals.
The President's date with the sky may work out in June 8, when he is likely to undertake a flight in Indian Air Forces frontline Russian fighter Sukhoi-30 MKI from the Pune Airbase.
Earlier, only George Fernandes as Defence Minister had ventured to fly in a MIG-21 aircraft when faced with widespread criticism that the aircraft was a "flying coffin" given the number of accidents involving the plane.
Top IAF officials said the President would undertake the flight in a two-seater trainer version of the fighter.
Recently, during the Presidential Fleet Review at Visakhapattinam, Kalam had undertaken a trip under the sea in a submarine.