The Diverse Pursuits of the Last Shah of Iran

One of the Shah's most enduring and personally significant pursuits was aviation, a hobby that transcended mere enjoyment and became a powerful symbol of national capability. Having completed specialized military training, he was a certified jet pilot, a skill that placed him at the cutting edge of modern technology. This mastery of flight was a calculated projection of an Iran capable of handling the most sophisticated machinery, reinforcing the message that the nation was shedding its past and soaring into a high-tech future, commanded by a King fully qualified to lead it there.