Punya flies the MiG-29 fighter jet and, today, is based at a frontline squadron ready for action at a moment’s notice.
Published Dec 09, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 23, 2025 | 8:24 PM
Flight Lieutenant Punya Nanjappa.
In a testament to the indomitable spirit of human endeavour, Flight Lieutenant Punya Nanjappa from Mysuru has soared to extraordinary heights, becoming the second woman fighter pilot from Karnataka and the first from the city.
Her journey, marked by unwavering determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence, has not only shattered glass ceilings but has inspired countless young women to dream big and aim high today.
Punya flies the MiG-29 fighter jet and today, is based at a frontline squadron ready for action at a moment’s notice.
“The MiG-29 has always given me a feel for thrust. Since I have always wanted to get into fighter flying. The first experience of me sitting in that cockpit and feeling the actual thrust and flying supersonic has been a thrilling experience for me,” she tells South First.
Punya said fighter flying is challenging and involves a lot of preparation on the ground with briefings and de-briefings before the next sortie.
“This becomes challenging per se because there is a lot to take in daily. The studying never stops for a pilot. You need not only to learn how to fly but also to know what you are doing. Every switch that you operate, what is the outcome of that particular switch. There is no room for mistakes. Every mistake has an end game to it,” she explains.
To join the Indian Air Force, Punya wrote the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT). She secured her place among 135 selected individuals. The next step was the IAF Service Selection Board Exam in Mysuru where 160 candidates from various states participated. Punya emerged as the sole candidate selected for piloting responsibilities.
Those selected in the flying branch undergo a year and a half year training at the Air Force Academy.
“The academy has a different atmosphere compared to civil life. They begin tuning you for what’s in store in defence life. There is a lot of discipline, timely activities, how to obey order and how to respect seniors,” she says, adding, “Staying grounded no matter what you achieve because all are competitors when they come into the academy. It is the best who are selected.”
Joining the academy does not mean you have made it Punya says. “It is a year of survival. You are studying, training and there are exams you take even in flying and you need to pass all those stages. You are given three lifelines.”
Punya initially wanted to become an NSG commando after watching the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
“My first streamlining towards defence started. I wanted to be one of those NSG commandos, jumping out of the helicopter. I wanted to shoot those terrorists and be one of them,” she says.
Her ambition to join the IAF began when her father took her to watch the Mysuru Dasara Air Show. That was the first time she saw the Men in Blue and the fighters flying above her. Punya wanted to fly one of those and began to find out what the IAF was all about.
She also attended the Aero India in Bengaluru with her father who saw her interest. “I saw a US female pilot, taxing out waving at the crowd and I said that I wanted to do that. That is where the journey started. Probably, it was a kid who wanted to dream big, wanted to genuinely sit in the cockpit and just wave at the people, leave the fact off flying but just wave is where it all started,” she tells us.
This led her to join the 4 Kar Air Sqn NCC in Mysuru which gave her the first taste of military life.
In her 4th year of engineering, she met with an accident during a cyclothon and injured herself. “I had three discs on my lower back which were herniated. That is when life almost came to a full stop.” The doctors suggested surgery but Punya did not do that since this would mean direct disqualification in joining the forces.
“I went into proper rehab. Once I finished my engineering, I started writing the exams since the entire selection procedure was a year-long procedure. I gave myself one-and-half years to fix my back,” she adds.
Her mother’s support pulled her through all this. “My mother has been so supportive of me. It takes an emotional toll when you do not have your husband around, your daughter is injured, not able to walk. But it takes some courage to say, you go chase your dreams. She did that for me and I am really lucky. Parents play such an important role in your life to shape your future. I am what I am today because of her,” she says.
Punya just had one attempt to make it through and she made it thanks to physiotherapy and ayurvedic sessions. This involved a lot of discipline and dedication to come out of it she says since, “A college student in the 4th year is more of let’s party and chill. I had to give up all of that and give my time to physiotherapy and rehab rather than spending time with friends in the evening and hitting the gym rather than the café.” These decisions are what made her successful.
On 26 January 2024, Punya Nanjappa flew her MiG-29 along with her Commanding Officer during the Republic celebrations.
“It is a very rare opportunity for many of the pilots to fly over the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. It takes a lot of seniority and hours of flying. The armed forces want women officers to succeed and do well. This opportunity which was given to us was something commendable and is an experience that many junior officers want to have. I was very lucky to have that opportunity,” she says.
Women in the armed forces are now a general thing she says. When it comes to flying, she adds, “The first and foremost thing we are told when we come into the cockpit is that the machine does not know whether you are a man or a woman. It does not differentiate. I am sure the armed forces will also not differentiate us,” she added.
Punya wants the youth to work smart. She wants them to know what they are getting into. “If you do not know what you want, and you just blindly follow the path that others are doing. Once you are there, trust me there are going to be days when you are not going to feel good about going to work on Monday morning.”
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
