Indian Air Force Day 2025: 9 Women Who Made History in Aviation

Indian Air Force Day 2025: They were not supposed to be there, not in the cockpit of a MiG-21, not commanding a fighter squadron, not flying rescue missions in war zones. But they showed up anyway, determined, fearless, and ready to rewrite the rulebook.

Today, as India celebrates its 93rd Air Force Day on October 8, 2025, we honour not just the formation of the Indian Air Force in 1932, but the extraordinary women who refused to let their dreams be grounded by gender. These are the guardians of our skies, symbols of strength who inspire pride in every Indian heart.

For decades, aviation was a boys’ club. Women were allowed to join the Indian Air Force in 1993, but only in support roles. It took another 23 years before the doors to fighter cockpits finally opened. Since then, over 1,600 women officers have joined the IAF, including dozens of pilots. India now boasts the world’s highest proportion of female commercial pilots, 14 percent, proving that when given a chance, women do not just fly, they soar.

Women Who Made History in the Indian Air Force

 

 

 

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Air Marshal Padma Bandopadhyay, India’s First Woman Air Marshal

Born in 1944, Dr Padma Bandopadhyay shattered every glass ceiling by becoming the first woman Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force. During the 1971 war, she served at a Punjab air base and led by example.

Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, India’s First Woman in a Combat Zone

In 1999, Gunjan Saxena made history as the first Indian woman to fly in a combat zone during the Kargil War. Flying a Cheetah helicopter through enemy fire, she evacuated injured soldiers and carried supplies to remote mountain bases.

Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi, India’s First Woman Fighter Pilot

Hailing from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Avani Chaturvedi became one of India’s first three women fighter pilots in 2016. In 2018, she created history by flying a MiG-21 Bison solo, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.

Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, First Woman Pilot at Republic Day Parade

Bhawana Kanth became the first woman fighter pilot to join the Indian Air Force contingent at the Republic Day parade. She earned her wings on the MiG-21 Bison in 2018 and continues to serve at a fighter base in western India.

Squadron Leader Mohana Singh, First Woman to Fly Tejas Fighter Jet

Born in Rajasthan, Mohana Singh Jitarwal comes from a proud military family. In 2019, she became the first woman fighter pilot to attain full operational status on the Hawk jet trainer. Later, she achieved another milestone, becoming the first woman to fly India’s Tejas fighter jet.

 

 

 

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Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh, India’s First Woman Rafale Pilot

Shivangi Singh, from Varanasi, carved her name in the skies as India’s first woman Rafale pilot. Selected after rigorous trials, she flew one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.

Wing Commander Sunita Pahal, The Kargil-Inspired Trailblazer

Sunita Pahal was only 13 during the Kargil War, yet those images of bravery never left her mind. Defying all odds, she joined the Air Force in 2008 and served as a Wing Commander for 14 years.

Squadron Leader Manisha Padhi, India’s First Woman Aide-de-Camp

Making history once again, Manisha Padhi became India’s first woman aide-de-camp (ADC), serving as personal assistant to top officials.

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Wing Commander Vijayalakshmi Ramanan, India’s First Woman Officer in IAF

In 1955, Vijayalakshmi Ramanan broke new ground by becoming the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force. A doctor by training, she served with dignity and commitment, opening the gates for thousands of women who followed in her footsteps.

 

 

 

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These women did not have it easy. They faced scepticism, physical challenges, and institutional barriers. They trained harder, flew longer hours, and proved themselves in ways their male counterparts never had to. But they never gave up. They knew that every mission completed, every solo flight logged, and every combat zone navigated was a victory not just for themselves, but for every girl who dared to look up at the sky and dream.

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