Rachel Thomas

Rachel Thomas is an Indian skydiver.

Rachel Thomas was born in 1955, at Chittranjan, West Bengal, India.

Her parents Alexander and Elizabeth Ittercherya were from Kerala and both worked with the Indian Railways.

She has a sister Susan.

She did her Senior Cambridge from St. Joseph's Convent Chandernagar, in West Bengal.

She was married at 17 to Capt. K. Thomas.

Their first child, Dennis, was born a year later.

She completed 650 jumps in 18 countries during her career, since her first jump in 1979.

On 20 April 1979, Thomas became the first female skydiver for India, starting her career by completing her "A" license from the Skydiving Federation of India at Agra.

She was just 24 years old, a mother of two children, and a civilian when she achieved this feat.

A year later she completed 15 jumps which led to her joining the Skydiving Demonstration Team.

Thomas did her first demonstration jump at Jabalpur for the Army Ordnance C, Celebration using a Para Commander for the first time.

1983: Thomas was part of the Demonstration Team for Federation Aeronautical International Annual Conference, hosted by the Aero Club of India.

The jump was completed at Safderjung Airport, New Delhi.

This led her to meet Claude Gillard, President of the Australian Parachute Federation, a Delegate at the Conference, who invited her to attend the Australian National Parachuting Championship in Australia the following year.

1986: Thomas received a scholarship from the Hon. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to attend the USA for further training.

She completed over 150 Jumps at Raeford, North Carolina.

She also completed her first tandem jump and underwent the Basic Accelerated Freefall Course.

She also trained as an Accuracy Jumper.

A former employee of Indian Railways, she was the first woman to compete for India in a skydiving competition in 1987 and has the record of being the first Indian female to skydive over the North Pole in 2002.

1987: The 4th World Cup of Champions in Accuracy Parachuting, Seoul.

This was the first competition in which Thomas represented India.

The event also marked her first jump into a sports stadium.

1987: Obtained special permission to train and practice with the Indian Airforce at the Para Training School, Agra, where she completed her first skydive jump on 29 December 1987.

1988: Represented India at the 19th World Parachuting Championship at Nykoping, Sweden.

This was Thomas' second World Competition.

1988: Took part in a 4 way Competition at Nykoping, Sweden where she completed six rounds.

She also completed her first 6-way jump.

1989: Represented India at Thai Open Parachuting Championship in Accuracy.

1991: The First National Skydiving Competition was held at Hindon, Airforce Station It was organized by the Airforce Adventure Foundation.

Thomas was the only civilian and female competitor.

1995: Took part in the Third National Skydiving Championship in Agra, India.

Her daughter, Annie, at the age of 20, would become a Femina Miss India winner in 1998.

The couple divorced after 10 years.

Thomas graduated from Agra University, with a Gold Medal in Literature.

She later completed her Bachelor in Education from Bakunti Devi College at Agra with a First Division.

She taught at St. George's School Agra for several years before she joined the Indian Railways.

She was the first Indian woman to skydive from 7,000 ft over the North Pole on 20 April 2002, to commemorate 150 years of the Indian Railways.

During the North Pole expedition she stayed on the ice for six days in - 45-55 °C temperature.

A winner of the National Adventure Sports Award, she was honored again by the Government of India, again in 2005, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.