November 24, 2003	Monday	Ramazan 28, 1424

NAGPUR (India), Nov 23: A woman who flew her microlight aircraft in India’s biggest air race that brought out fighter jets and helicopters walked away on Sunday not only with a prize but a lifetime seat on the country’s state carriers.

Audrey Maben, from Bangalore, was surprised when Deputy Indian Prime Minister L.K. Advani offered the additional gift at the end of the three-day air race, billed as the largest since India became independent.

The 27-year-old amateur flier not only pit her homemade microlight against supersonic planes of the Indian Air Force but survived bad weather, which somehow spared most of the remaining 50 participants en route.

The air force predictably swept most of the prizes but mother-of-one Maben and her tiny flying machine bagged an award reserved for microlights, some of which were flown by professional trainers and former military pilots. Advani said he was amazed by the solo performance of Maben, who has just 176 flying hours under the belt.

“Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and I were both stunned by the raw courage of young Audrey Maben, who said goodbye to her four-year-old daughter and took off in a microlight,” Advani said in Nagpur, where the race ended.

“I hear she pulled through terrible weather conditions and we are so impressed by her that we have instituted a permanent ticket for her to fly in (state-run) Indian Airlines and Air India,” Advani said amid applause.

The participants stopped at 25 airstrips, some of them barely usable, and en route to Nagpur flew through Bangalore and the sea resort of Goa.

The Aeronautical Society of India organised the event.

Maben, who helps at her husband’s microlight training school in Bangalore, said winning in her section meant a lot to her.

“I practiced, waited and trained for three years to take part in this race. I am 54 kilograms and five-feet, three-inches so I know that I am very very small for flying but it never held me back.

“My husband Ashok Mehta has been my instructor and he was sure I would finish the race. Next time I participate I plan to take my daughter Amy along for the ride. This time I was a bit worried and did not take any risk,” she said.—AFP