Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi (born 27 November 1993) is an Indian pilot from Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh. She was declared as the first combat pilot along with two of her cohorts, Mohana Singh Jitarwal, and Bhawana Kanth. The trio was inducted into the Indian Air Force fighter squadron in June 2016. They were formally commissioned by then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 18th June 2016, to serve the nation.
Avani Chaturvedi got selected to train at Hyderabad Air Force Academy and complete the training at the age of 25. After completing one year of training there, Chaturvedi became a fighter pilot in June 2016. Once Chaturvedi completes Stage III training at Bidar in adjoining Karnataka next year, they will be able to fly fighter jets like the Sukhoi and Tejas.
In 2018, Chaturvedi became the first Indian woman pilot to take a solo flight in a MiG-21. In 2018 Avani was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Chaturvedi is posted in Indian Air Force No. 23 Squadron Panthers in Suratgarh, Rajasthan
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