Rita Yadav, 46, has scripted aviation history as India’s first woman to hold both a hot-air balloon and hot-air airship pilot license, breaking barriers in a field long dominated by men. The Haryana-born former NCC cadet and national-level kabaddi player now commands the skies over Delhi, offering passengers breathtaking bird’s-eye views of the capital from her colourful balloon.

Yadav earned her commercial licence in 2010 after rigorous training in Italy and Switzerland, followed by certification from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. On November 25, she piloted Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on a successful trial flight, who later remarked how reassuring it was to see a woman at the controls. “Passengers instantly feel at ease when they see a female pilot,” she says, adding that her gender has become an unexpected advantage.

An army daughter and wife of retired Colonel Mukesh Yadav, a former paratrooper, Rita grew up moving across India and inherited a love for adventure early. “My husband pushed me to chase this passion—he literally showed me the way to Europe for training,” she shares. While she was away honing her skills, her family looked after their young son, who is now training to become a commercial airline pilot himself.

Also Read: Shashi Tharoor Lands President's Banquet Invite for Putin as Rahul Gandhi Cries Foul

Before basing herself in Delhi, Yadav operated as an independent consultant, criss-crossing the country with her own balloon packed in her car, flying tourists in Goa, Bhopal, and beyond. “I would drive with the balloon, inflate it on-site, and give rides. It was freedom on another level,” she recalls with a laugh.

Today, she owns her balloon outright and continues to inspire countless women. “From NCC cadet to playing kabaddi at nationals and now flying thousands of feet above ground—every step felt impossible until I did it,” says Yadav, whose journey proves that with family backing and sheer grit, the sky is no limit.

As Delhi’s winter sky fills with her vibrant balloon, Rita Yadav is not just offering rides—

Also Read: Family Suspects Possession in Haryana Woman's Chilling Child Killings Confession