They say when you dream about something big and continue to chase it with hard work and willpower, then you can hold it close to you. This saying has been proven to be right several times. Similar is the case with India’s only woman Rafale pilot, Shivangi Singh, who dreamt of being a pilot at the age of nine, and now, she’s eyeing to be an astronaut.
Meet India’s first Rafale pilot, Shivangi Singh
Recently, the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, following the Pahalgam attack, brought India’s deal to add the World’s most powerful fighter plane, the French-made Rafale jet, to the IAF, to the limelight. India already had its hands on 36 Rafel jets, and last month 26 more aircraft were ordered from Dassault Aviation, which was a multi-billion-dollar deal. Well, as Operation Sindoor has grabbed all the attention, let’s learn about India’s only woman Rafale pilot, Shivangi Singh.
India’s first Rafale fighter pilot, Shivangi Singh dreamt of being a pilot at the age of 9
Shivangi Singh was born in UP’s Varanasi, and she completed her studies at Banaras Hindu University and later joined the Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad. While she continued with her studies, Shivangi’s dream to become a pilot began when she was nine years old. She visited the Air Force Museum in New Delhi as a kid. She shared that watching the fighter planes, she gawked at them, and instantly decided that she would become a pilot.
India’s first Rafale fighter pilot, Shivangi Singh’s inspiration was her mom
Shivangi’s mom was a huge inspiration for her, who always wanted her daughter to not only complete her studies but also to be self-reliant. Shivangi’s mom backed her every step of the way, and the once-little girl, who dreamt of being a pilot someday, could fly high by fulfilling her dream. Not only that, she is the first woman Rafale pilot, which is a job, that was reserved for males only, for a long time. India started recruiting females for the IAF back in 1995, but it was only in 2015 that they were allowed to fly fighter planes. Shivangi could be quoted as saying:
“Many women like me have become fighter pilots. This not only shows the modernisation (of our society) but also shows that we can now fulfill our dreams.”
Shivangi Singh has been trained by French instructors to fly the Rafale jet
Shivangi Singh recalled being nervous and worried when in 2023 the IAF reported 1,600 women officers and a lot of fighter pilots. She also tried her hand on the Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jet, which is the IAF’s ageing fleet, currently being replaced by Rafale. In 2020, Shivangi had to go through a rigorous selection process by IAF to fly Rafale Jet, and after the same, she had been trained by French instructors.
Shivangi Singh wants to be an astronaut and wants to be a part of India’s manned space mission
Shivangi is currently 29 years old, and she’s married to her fellow fighter pilot. She’s currently posted at Ambala Air Force Station. Well, Shivangi’s dream isn’t fulfilled yet as she now wants to be an astronaut. The braveheart has applied for pilot training as her next big dream is to be a part of India’s manned space mission. Talking about her achievements, Shivangi said:
“I succeeded in a field that was long reserved for men, and if I succeeded, then women can now work in any sector. I want to be an astronaut. So let’s hope.”
Shivangi Singh is an inspiration for many, not just because she fulfilled her childhood dreams, but also because of the way she never paused and continued creating history!
Also Read: Meet Sofiya Qureshi And Vyomika Singh, Indian Officers Who Led Press Briefing Post Operation Sindoor