Shivangi Singh is a Flight Lieutenant of the Indian Air Force. She made headlines in September 2020 after she became the first and only woman pilot to fly the French-made fighter jet Rafale after going through a stringent selection process. She is the first woman from the city of Varanasi to join the Indian Air Force. She became the first woman Rafale pilot to take part in the multinational exercise Orion in France held from 17 April to 05 May 2023.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Shivangi Singh was born in 1995 (age 28 years; as of 2023) in Pulwariya, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. After completing her schooling, Shivangi enrolled at Banaras Hindu University and joined 7 UP Air Squadron NCC in Varanasi. She got selected through a standard aptitude test for Indian Air Force and started her training at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Telangana in July 2016. In an interview, her mother said
We always supported her in all her endeavours. She was a brilliant student and excelled in sports. She was a national-level javelin thrower and basket ball player. She also made a mark for herself during her NCC days. We are very proud of her.”
Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh at the combined graduation parade at Air Force Academy
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Kumareshwar Singh is the father of Shivangi Singh, who runs a tour and travel business in Varanasi. Shivangi’s mother’s name is Seema Singh who is a teacher. She has a brother named Shubanshu.
Shivangi Singh with her father, Kumareshwar Singh, mother, Seema Singh, and brother, Shubanshu
Career
Shivangi Singh got commissioned in the second batch of women fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force in 2017. She has flown MiG-21 Bison since her commission. She was posted at the Border Base in Rajasthan where she flew alongside Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman. In 2020, she underwent conversion training and got selected to fly a fighter jet, Rafale, and became part of 17 Squadron, Golden Arrow, in Ambala. In 2022, she became the second women fighter jet pilot to be part of IAF Tableau in the Republic Day Parade marching down to Rajpath in Delhi.
Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh during Republic Day Parade
In April 2023, Shivangi Singh became the first Rafal woman pilot to participate in one of the largest wargame exercises, Orion, hosted by France. It was the first time for the Indian Air Force to take part in an overseas exercise for the Rafale aircraft.
Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh at overseas exercise Orion along with other fighter jet pilots
In 2023, during the standoff with China, Shivangi has flown the Rafale fighter jet over the areas of eastern Ladakh and the LAC; talking about her aircraft in an interview, Shivangi said:
I have flown in that area & the aircraft performed as expected and we have carried out all the missions that were entitled to us with utmost ease.”
Facts/Trivia
- She is also known as Rafale Rani.
- In an interview, she revealed that she always wanted to fly since her childhood.
I always wanted to fly, as any child would dream of doing. Ever since I learned about the Air Force, I wanted only one thing – to become a fighter pilot. That is the reason I joined the Air Force.”
