Aero India 2015 to kick off tomorrow with aerial display
17 Feb 2015
Aero India 2015, Asia's premier air show, will take off at Bengaluru's Yelahanka Airport tomorrow with aerial displays by military and civil aircraft, including India's own Sarang helicopters.
Air Force Station at Yelahanka in the IT city is all set to host the 10th edition of the biennial five-day international edition of the aerospace and aviation exhibition, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
More than 15 teams comprising 23 or more aircraft will perform precision flying twice daily in the coming days.
Global armament majors eyeing the multi-billion dollar Indian defence market are expected to align with the `Make in India' campaign of the Narendra Modi government.
Air shows are essentially about business meetings and exhibits of military hardware and merchandise. But over the years the reputation of Aero India, now into its tenth edition, has also been assiduously built by magnificent displays - static and aerial - by both civil and military aircraft, including participation by famed aerobatic teams from around the world enthralling audiences.
Aero India 2015 is also being much talked about and anticipated as world-acclaimed aerobatics teams - Breitling Wingwalkers (US), Scandinavian Air Show, Flying Bulls from Czech Republic, Yakovlevs formation display team from UK - are set to captivate the young and old onlookers alike.
The IAF Sarang Helicopter Display Team, one of only two helicopter display teams in the world - the other being 'Blue Eagles' of the British Army - will display helicopters painted in bright colours with the peacock form superimposed on them.
The helicopters have been painted in bright colours with the peacock form superimposed on them. It is today a widely and easily recognised artwork on these indigenously built helicopters.
''It attempts to symbolise the beauty and grace of the peacock during the display,'' explains Sarang Team Leader, Wing Commander AS Abhyankar, a qualified flying instructor and now Commanding Officer of the outfit.
Over 300 foreign firms along with 54 high-level delegations from several countries will be taking part in this year's event, said to be the largest ever air show to be hosted so far in India.
The US with 64 companies will have the largest presence at the show in which 33 other countries are taking part. Behind the US is France with 58 companies, UK 48, Russia 41, Israel 25 and Germany 17, organisers said.
Seven of the 11 foreign military aircraft on display will be American - two F-15C Eagles, two F-16C Fighting Falcons, one Boeing KC-135 tanker, one C-17 Globemaster III and a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.
Three Rafale fighters of French giant Dassault- shortlisted for acquisition by the IAF - will fly aerobatics displays. Negotiations over the deal for 126 aircraft are facing rough weather with efforts underway to resolve it.
India's Light Combat Aircraft `Tejas' will be participating in the formation flight display, Defence Research and Development Organisation officials said.
HAL has said Advanced Light Helicopter - Weapon System Integration (ALH-WSI) Rudra, ALH Skid Utility, LCH and the first series production Light Combat Aircraft (SP1) will be on static display.
A high level Israeli delegation, including senior ministry of defence officials, led by Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon will be attending the show. They will also hold high-level meetings in Delhi to firm up business relationship.
Israel ranks among India's top three defence equipment suppliers after US and Russia.
With the Modi government seeking to give a greater thrust to its "Make in India" campaign, a defence manufacturing investors summit and global CEO's conference, to be chaired by defence minister Manohar Parrikar is also being planned.
Organisers are also gearing up for the record turnout during the five day event expecting over 3 lakh visitors this time, almost double the figure of 2013.
