Dimapur, April 26 (EMN): It was a long wait of almost one-and-a-half years for the NCC cadets of Nagaland but the moment finally came when the first batch of five cadets got the chance to fly a sortie each in Virus SW-80 aircraft of NCC on April 26.
Cdt L V Thotnganing became the first senior division cadet to fly a sortie in Virus SW-80 aircraft, while Cdt Senchumbeni became the first girl of NCC Nagaland to fly a sortie with the Commanding Officer Wing Commander Ganesh Sawant of No 1 Nagaland Air Squadron NCC Dimapur, informed a press release received on Friday.
The two Virus SW-80 aircraft, which are of Slovenian origin, had arrived at Dimapur airport in August 2017, but the flying of cadets was not possible due to non availability of taxi link from aircraft hangar to the runway at Dimapur airport. However, test flights of the aircrafts were carried out after the completion of taxi link in the first week of April and the date for the historic mission was fixed once it was declared flyworthy.
The cadets were given an air sortie and handled the aircraft control for the first time. They were thrilled by the experience of flying over Dimapur and have a bird’s eye view of the city, read the statement.
“It was a proud moment for all the five cadets to be the part of the first batch to fly this aircraft. It was one of the most memorable days of their lives and all of them are looking forward to get airborne once again. Now the ball has been set rolling and more NCC cadets will be able to soar in the sky,” it added.