Harita Kaur Deol was appointed as SSC Officer in the year 1993 And she became the first woman cadet to join the Indian Air Force.
September 1994,
the 22 years old Harita Deol made India shine brightly when she flew high in
an Avro HS–748 and She created history when she kissed the clouds at
a massive height of 10,000 feet, which indeed was an momentous occasion for
Indian Air Force. She was the first woman to fly in IAF without any co-pilot.
And when she finally touched the ground, she knew she had made the history of
the first that day. It was not only a proud moment for her but for the officer
who trained her throughout. Her demonstration was so neat that she outdid the
male pilots, as exclaimed by her training officer.
Air Operation
Task : 24 Dec 1996
It is said that the great talents on earth always have an early exit.On 24 Dec 1996, Flt Lt Harita was assigned an operational as a co-pilot. Flt Lt Harita took off from Chennai in her HS-748 Avro aircraft as a co-pilot on a sortie from Chennai to Hyderabad. However on the way to Hyderabad the aircraft suffered technical glitches along with wing fatigue and crashed near Bukkapuram village in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
In this ill fated crash Flt lt Harita lost her life along with 24 other personnel.
Thus the life of
a fine Air Force officer and a committed soldier was lost in this
unfortunate accident. Flt Lt Harita had achieved the distinction of becoming
the first Indian woman to fly a solo flight in the IAF but unfortunately also
became the first woman Air Force pilot to die in harness in the line of duty.
Harita received
the Pride of MCM Award after death by Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat,
which was received by her mother.
https://www.beaninspirer.com/inspiring-story-harita-kaur-deol-first-woman-fly-solo-indian-air-force/
