<p>He was 82 and is survived by his wife and three daughters. Lafontaine headed the Indian Air Force(IAF) for three years from July 1985.<br /><br />President Pratibha Patil condoled the death of Lafontaine, calling him a man of "new thinking" and "innovations". Lafontaine was cremated in his native village in the evening.<br /><br />In her condolence message to Lafontaine's wife, Patil said he oversaw major inductions in the IAF.<br /><br />"A fighter pilot, his tenure at the helm saw major type inductions in the IAF, including the Dassault Mirage-2000 and MiG-29. Air Chief Marshal La' Fontaine was known for his innovations and new thinking that led to improvement in the quality of training of pilots in the IAF.<br /><br />"One of the first pilots of the IAF to fly jet fighter, his various assignments gave him a variety of experiences that he used well while heading the IAF from July 1985 to July 1988," Patil said.<br /><br />Lafontaine was born in Chennai on September 17, 1929. His grandfather as well as his father had served in the Indian Army.<br /><br />He joined IAF as a fighter pilot in 1950 and rose in to become its 13th Chief in July 1985.<br /><br />He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VSM), Ati-Vishisht Seval Medal and Param-Vishisht Seva Medal during his illustrious career.<br /><br />Lafontaine had been staying at his home near Brahmanapalli village in Medak district since his retirement.<br /><br />Medak district Collector S Suresh Kumar laid a wreath on Lafontaine's body on behalf of AP government and paid homage.</p>
<p>He was 82 and is survived by his wife and three daughters. Lafontaine headed the Indian Air Force(IAF) for three years from July 1985.<br /><br />President Pratibha Patil condoled the death of Lafontaine, calling him a man of "new thinking" and "innovations". Lafontaine was cremated in his native village in the evening.<br /><br />In her condolence message to Lafontaine's wife, Patil said he oversaw major inductions in the IAF.<br /><br />"A fighter pilot, his tenure at the helm saw major type inductions in the IAF, including the Dassault Mirage-2000 and MiG-29. Air Chief Marshal La' Fontaine was known for his innovations and new thinking that led to improvement in the quality of training of pilots in the IAF.<br /><br />"One of the first pilots of the IAF to fly jet fighter, his various assignments gave him a variety of experiences that he used well while heading the IAF from July 1985 to July 1988," Patil said.<br /><br />Lafontaine was born in Chennai on September 17, 1929. His grandfather as well as his father had served in the Indian Army.<br /><br />He joined IAF as a fighter pilot in 1950 and rose in to become its 13th Chief in July 1985.<br /><br />He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VSM), Ati-Vishisht Seval Medal and Param-Vishisht Seva Medal during his illustrious career.<br /><br />Lafontaine had been staying at his home near Brahmanapalli village in Medak district since his retirement.<br /><br />Medak district Collector S Suresh Kumar laid a wreath on Lafontaine's body on behalf of AP government and paid homage.</p>