Latest news with #Sqn
India Today
25-06-2025
- Science
- India Today
Trained in blue, bound for stars: Air Force on Shubhanshu Shukla's launch
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Wednesday as he soared into space aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) on a private commercial a congratulatory message on X, the Indian Air Force wrote: 'Indian Air Force tweets, "From conquering the skies to touching the stars- a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Warrior. Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla sets forth on a landmark Space Mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond Earth. This is a dj-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, who first carried our Tricolour beyond Earth. Being more than a mission, it is a reaffirmation of India's ever-expanding horizon."From conquering the skies to touching the stars— a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Captain Shubahanshu Shukla sets forth on a landmark Space Mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond is a dj-vu moment for India, 41 Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 25, 2025advertisementUnion Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also hailed the successful launch of the mission being piloted by Shukla and said, 'India's rise to the status of Viksit Bharat has taken flight through space.' "It is indeed the vindication of the founding fathers of India's space program, Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan. It is so that this vindication of our founding fathers had to happen under the leadership of PM Modi. India is no longer a follower but an equal partner in all our collaborations. Shubhanshu Shukla is possibly the most crucial member of this mission as he performs seven crucial experiments designed by Indian institutes. These will be of vital importance to all agencies across the world," he several delays, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:31a.m. IST (6:31a.m. GMT).advertisementShukla is joined by three international crewmates for the 14-day Axiom-4 mission. Together, they will conduct more than 60 microgravity experiments aboard the ISS. As mission pilot, Shukla is now navigating the spacecraft toward a precise docking, nearly 400 km above Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 2006. He is one of the four astronauts chosen for ISRO's ambitious Gaganyaan mission and is currently piloting the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). It may be noted that the selection of fighter pilots as astronauts follows a long-standing tradition dating back to the early days of space exploration. Notably, the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, and NASA's inaugural astronaut, Alan Shepard, were both military-trained pilots, a deliberate choice reflecting the skills and discipline needed for spaceflight.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#NASA
News18
29-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Claim Of IAF Jet Shot Down And Pilot Killed Is Fake, Says PIB Fact Check
Agency: Last Updated: The PIB Fact Check unit has termed the claim fake and far from the truth, clarifying that the pilot in question is safe, on duty, and actively deployed. The Central government on Thursday categorically denied a viral social media post claiming that a MiG-29 UPG fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was shot down and its pilot killed on May 7. The PIB Fact Check unit has termed the claim fake and far from the truth, clarifying that the pilot in question is safe, on duty, and actively deployed. 'A post circulating on social media claims that an Indian Air Force jet MiG-29 UPG has been shot down, and the IAF pilot has died. This claim is fake. The @IAF_MCC pilot is safe, on duty, and currently deployed," the official PIB Fact Check handle said in a post on X. The fabricated post appears to be linked to Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror operation launched in response to the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead. The fake message, which is being widely circulated, claims that on May 7, a MiG-29 UPG was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force JF-17C over Ramban in Jammu & Kashmir, resulting in the death of Squadron Leader Keshav Yadav. The misleading post reads: 'On 7 May 2025, #IndianAir Force (#IAF) MiG-29 UPG shot down by a #PakistanAirForce JF-17C using a PL-15 LRAAM over Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir, was being piloted by Sqn. Ldr. Keshav Yadav (IAF No. 32394), who sustained injuries and died on 22 May 2025 at Udhampur Military Hospital, Jammu & Kashmir. #IndiaPakistanWar #IndiaPakistanWar2025 #JF17 #MIG29" Dismissing the claim outright, the government emphasised that no such incident took place on May 7 or at any other time. 'The claim is entirely fabricated. No IAF aircraft has been shot down, and the pilot mentioned is alive and on active duty," the PIB Fact Check post clarified. Officials have urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information and warned that spreading fake news, especially on matters of national security, can have serious consequences. First Published: May 29, 2025, 21:30 IST
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Plaque for Spitfire crash pilot unveiled
A plaque honouring an RAF pilot who died in a Spitfire crash has been unveiled. Sqn Ldr Mark Long was killed when his plane, which belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on 25 May 2024. The commemorative plaque was installed in the village of Market Stainton, near Market Rasen, and unveiled during a dedication ceremony at 13:00 BST. On the day of his death, Sqn Ldr Long, 43, had been due to fly over the village as part of a remembrance ceremony for the crew of a Lancaster bomber, which crashed nearby in 1943, organisers said. The plaque for Sqn Ldr Long was organised by Dan Grant, who was also involved in the memorial event for the Lancaster crew. His cousin, Flying Officer Francis Archie Randall, was the pilot of the bomber when it came down in the village on its return from a raid on Berlin on 16 December 1943. Mr Grant, a retired airline captain and aviation historian who lives in Quebec, Canada, raised money for a memorial dedicated to Flying Officer Randall – who was just 21 when he died – and the rest of the crew. He said Sqn Ldr Long had been on his way to perform a fly-past at a dedication ceremony for the memorial when his Spitfire crashed. Mr Grant said he decided to pay tribute to Sqn Ldr Long with a new plaque in his honour, which had been sponsored by the RAF. He paid tribute to Sqn Ldr Long as a man who "dedicated himself to preserving the history of the RAF, as well as defending the freedoms we now enjoy", adding that he could not be "more proud" of him. The BBMF fleet was grounded after the crash, but has since been cleared for flying and is due to take part in events during this year's display season. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. WW2 fighters cleared to fly after pilot death Daughter's tribute to dad who died in Spitfire crash RAF's 'special tribute' to Spitfire crash pilot Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
