Former IAF fighter pilot N. Uttam Kumar Reddy (photo circled) is one of the few politicians in the country with the distinction of having flown fighter jets as an officer in the India Air Force.
The phasing out of Indian Air Force’s (IAF) iconic MiG-21, the country’s first supersonic fighter aircraft, today has an emotional connect with several officers who flew the jet.
Among those who share a personal bond with the aircraft is Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, a former IAF fighter pilot. Speaking to The Hindu on the day of its formal phasing out, the Minister grew emotional as he recounted his years in uniform.
“I flew the MiG-21 in Tezpur in Assam on the Indo-China border and subsequently the MiG-23 in the western sector,” he said. “The MiG-21 was a challenging aircraft to master, but it gave generations of pilots like me the thrill of supersonic flying. I feel proud to have been part of its legacy and also a bit emotional as it bows out,” he said.
“I was just 20 years when I first flew the supersonic and the excitement still stays with me,” said Mr. Reddy, who is one of the few politicians in the country with the distinction of having flown fighter jets as an officer in the IAF.
A graduate of the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakvasla, he served in the Air Force before moving into Rashtrapati Bhavan to serve as the Controller of Security, Protocol, Administration, foreign trips of President.
He later moved to public life winning as MLA six times and also serving as a Parliament member from Nalgonda in the last session.
Published – September 26, 2025 09:13 PM is
