Group Captain K.K. Venugopal has created history in 2026 by becoming the first Indian test pilot to be elected a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP). The SETP is an international professional body of test pilots who evaluate new and modified aircraft before they enter service. Election as a Fellow is a recognition of a member's outstanding professional contribution to flight testing. The honour is a notable milestone for India's aviation and aerospace testing community.