‘Aero India’ takes off today

‘Aero India’ takes off today

Aero India 2005 will be the fifth show in this series with over 270 companies and 150 aircraft participating.

Deccan Herald

Bangalore will be taken over by “aerial fever” for the next five days with the biggest air show to strike this part of the world — Aero India 2005 — taking off on Wednesday at Air Force Station in Yelahanka.

Like last time, the air displays, to be held on all five days (February 9 to 13) by advanced flying machines are expected to be a great crowd-puller. Organised by the Department of Defence Production and Supplies, Aero India 2005 will be formally launched by the Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee at 10 am on February 9.

Running parallel to the air displays will be the aerospace exhibition which this year has attracted participants from 31 foreign countries. The first air show was held in 1996 and the Aero India 2005 would be the fifth show in this series. Over 270 companies and 150 aircraft are participating this year.

The general public will be able to view Intermediate Jet trainer (IJT), multi-role transport aircraft Saras, Advanced Light Helicopter Sarang, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, the Jaguar, Kamov-31 and Sukhoi-30 MKI. Surya Kiran will perform aerobatics during the air show. During the inaugural fly-past on Wednesday, Mi-17 helicopters, Jaguars and the Akash Ganga sky diving team of the IAF will do a free fall at 6,500 feet from a Mi-8.

The mid-air refuelling of Mirage 2000 by the IL 78 will be one of the main attractions, as will be the Saras, IJT Tejas and the Sarang helicopter display. The IAF’s aerobatics team — the Suryakirans — are expected to leave the audience gasping for more of their formations and manoeuvres.

Brazil is displaying their Global Express and the Learjet-60. The French are bringing Mirage 2000, and the German are getting the C-160. The DEO has set up two restaurants at the public display area, he said. Nearly 24 acres of display area has been landscaped.

FACT BOX

* Tickets for the public will be sold at various Canara Bank branches.
*These tickets will cost Rs 150.
* Air display timings: Feb 9: 3 pm to 4:30 pm
Feb: 10-13: 11 am to 12:30 pm and 3 pm to 4:30 pm.
* Business visitors’ passes will cost Rs 500.
* Timings: Feb 9: 1 pm to 5 pm
Feb: 10-13: 10 am to 5 pm.
* Ticket holders are advised to carefully follow the signages on the road leading to the show.