The father of the 25-year-old was also a colonel in the Indonesian Air Force
Yuyu Sutisna, the chief of the Air Force, lead the ceremony of inauguration for 42 officers under strict COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of everyone. The ceremony took place at the Ignatius Dewanto Auditorium of the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. The induction of Ajeng Tresna made the occasion even more memorable.
The Air Force public communications head Col. Muhammad Yuris was excited at the induction of the first female fighter pilot. In a statement titled “Indonesia’s Captain Marvel has been born,” Yuris said that Ajeng would help other women break the glass ceiling.
“[Ajeng] is expected to be an inspiration for other women to become fighter pilots and break the glass ceiling in the Indonesian Air Force,” Yuris said.
Col. Muhammad Yuris also pointed towards the history of the country which has previously seen female warriors recalling that the Royal Navy of the Aceh Sultanate had a female admiral named Malahayati, who formed an all-female combat unit called Inong Balee. It consisted of the widows of Acehnese soldiers.
A graduate of 2018 from the Air Force Academy, Ajeng will pilot the Korean KAI T-50i Golden Eagle with the 15th Squadron of the 3rd Air Wing Fighters stationed at Iswahjudi Air Force Base in Madiun, East Java. KAI T-50i Golden Eagle is a light aircraft and an advanced supersonic trainer.
The 25-year-old, whose father was also a colonel in the air force, said she would protect the sovereignty of her country. She also revealed that her instructors had encouraged her to become a fighter pilot. “The instructors motivated me to become a fighter [pilot], and it has become a reality,” said Ajeng.