Its Shahid, not Dhoni, who flew the F16 jet

New Delhi, February 12: Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of American fighter jet F-16, denied receiving a formal proposal from the Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni for a sortie in the single-engine jet. However, the corporation went on to confirm that Hindi film actor Shahid Kapur flew along with a co-pilot on Saturday. The actor is playing an IAF Squadron Leader in a new film, Mausam.

Regarding Kapur's flight, Lockheed Martin's statement went on to say that 'the production team of the movie was keen to provide Shahid with the experience of flying in the world's best multi-role fighter jet, the F-16IN Super Viper. Lockheed Martin agreed to provide Shahid Kapur this opportunity as he portrays a courageous IAF Squadron Leader, and this experience will be part of his training for the role.' The jet is on offer to India for the duration of Aero India 2011, the five-day biennial air show in Bangalore, as a part of the Indian Air Force's 126 aircraft deal. The company's statement, while denying Dhoni's bid, went on to say that 'We would love for him to fly with us.'

Meanwhile, BCCI member Rajiv Shukla told a TV channel on Saturday morning that cricketers are not encouraged to indulge in adventure activities, regardless of the approaching World Cup. He confirmed that the BCCI had not received any request from Dhoni regarding the F-16 sortie. Dhoni is in Bangalore with the rest of the team to play a warm-up match with Australia on Sunday, the last day of Aero India, ahead of the World Cup which begins on Feb 19.

The jet manufacturers refused to comment on whether Dhoni's request was casual and done verbally, an act that could have caused the proposal to be denied, due to lack of training. Aircraft manufacturers entertain civilian flights as co-passengers during air-shows, but only after a proper request is made and the guest is made to undergo medical tests and simulator training. Celebrities, who are invited by aircraft manufacturers, are also put through some training. In this year's Aero India, Congress MP Navin Jindal took a ride in the French Rafale aircraft, while Tata chairman, Ratan Tata was invited by Boeing for his second F/A-18 Super Hornet sortie. Last year, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was accorded the rank of an honorary Group Captain by the IAF. He was invited by the IAF for a sortie in the IAF Sukhoi-30MKI, subject to his availability, much like President Pratibha Patil who took a Sukhoi sortie in November 2009.

An IAF official said that, 'Although Tendulkar is fit, being a sportsperson, but he would still have to undergo a basic medical test and also, if required, a Sukhoi simulator test, for his own familiarisation.' It may be noted that President Pratibha Patil had not only undergone a thorough medical examination before embarking on her sortie, but also practised in a mock cockpit erected specially in Rashtrapati Bhawan two months before her flight. This reporter was the first woman to take a sortie in the F16IN Super Viper during Aero Indian 2009.

The six global fighter jet manufacturers vying for the IAF's order for 126 fighter jets are American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet IN, F-16IN Super Viper from America's Lockheed Martin, Gripen Next Generation (NG) from Sweden's Saab, European consortium EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon, French Rafale from Dassault Aviation and the Russian MiG-35, all of who are entertaining civilian celebrity flights during the show, for promotion purposes.