President to wear G-suit to fly on Sukhoi
Mid-day: President Pratibha Patil will exchange her traditional sari for a G-suit on her maiden Sukhoi flight tomorrow.
President Pratibha Patil will be seen in a new avatar on her trip to Pune tomorrow. Instead of being draped in her traditional sari, Patil will don flying overalls and a G-suit.
The complete attire for her sortie in an IAF Sukhoi includes a fire resistant flying overall, G-suit, aircrew helmet, gloves and boots.
The G suit is mandatory when a person flies on a supersonic aircraft. The trouser-like one piece apparel costs around Rs 30,000. Patil will be sitting in the rear end of the cockpit in the twin engine multi-role military aircraft.
According to a senior IAF source, the president has to wear this apparel as it is necessary not only for flight safety, but also for protection against unforeseen fire hazard.
“Since the President was keen to fly in a Sukhoi, she was told that it is imperative for her to wear the flying overall like other pilots, as saris or other dresses don’t meet the requirement,” the source said.
The G-suit is a flight garment worn by astronauts and jet pilots that presses on the lower body to maintain the blood supply to the brain during rapid vertical acceleration.
Incidentally, the IAF had to hunt for the flying overall and G suit, which would suit her small frame as these are usually worn by Air Force pilots who are usually tall and lanky and it is custom made to suit their frame, the source said.
A team of senior IAF personnel, including lady officers, have met the president at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan and briefed her in detail about the flight procedure the apparel that a person travelling on a supersonic aircraft has to wear, the process of wearing a G-suit and how to board the aircraft by showing her video clips.
“Boarding the rear end of the aircraft is trickier than the cockpit and, hence, the president has been specifically briefed about the technique of boarding,” added the source.
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