When Vikas Oberoi flew at the speed of sound

The Rafale fighter jet deal between the Indian and French government is in the news for hitting turbulence, with the two parties not agreeing to all conditions presented. But there is one Indian whose heart is sold on the French flying beauties — realty billionaire Vikas Oberoi, who had the rare chance to fly one of them at the Bangalore Air Show in February.

Oberoi had been in touch with Dassault, the company that manufactures Rafale jets, and naturally, had to get clearances from both governments to fly. Calling it "an unbelievable experience that money can't buy", Oberoi told ETPanache that he came back with a table top souvenir of the plane, and treasures the fighter jet uniform he wore on the flight. "We were in the air for about 30 minutes and flying at a speed that is faster than the speed of sound," he said about flying a Rafale, "We did loops, vertical rolls, barrel rolls, side rolls, slides and spins. The plane can emulate a fall like it's been hit with a missile." What's better than the souvenirs? The memory of actually flying the plane.