Thousands Flock in as Air Show Opens to Public
Bangalore, Feb 12 (IANS): AeroIndia on Saturday became a grand public event with thousands of people, young and old, flocking to the venue to witness scintillating flight displays and breathtaking aerobatics by a range of metal birds.
The five-day biennial military-cum-civil aviation trade expo opened its gates for the public Saturday after the first three days for exclusive business interactions. The show will conclude Sunday.
"We are expecting about 100,000 footfalls during this weekend when the air show is thrown open to the public after three days of serious business," an official told IANS here. Amid tight security arrangements, enthusiastic visitors from the city and outside thronged the sprawling Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Yelahanka for a close look at the fighter jets, transport aircraft, choppers and a range of aerospace systems, including radars, aero engines and aviation equipment.
As the expo venue is located on the busy national highway, 20 km away from the city and 10 km from the Bangalore international airport, the thoroughfare was choc-a-bloc with hundreds of vehicles waiting for their turn for parking.
With the two-hour-long flying display beginning at 10 a.m., there was a scramble for vantage points to view the magnificent take-offs and the aerial exercises. Though the sky was clear and windy, hundreds of viewers, especially women and children had to hunt for shelter to avoid the beating sunrays while gazing up.
When the sub-sonic Surya Kiran trainers took to sky in different formations, the crowds went into ruptures, cheering and clapping even as the jets left behind a trail of smoke in Indian tri-colours.
The smooth take-off and dazzling display of its potent strike force made the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas cynosure of the crowds, drawing applause and admiration. The world's smallest multirole fourth generation fighter rolled, soared and dropped vertically to fly upside down.
The dazzling display and daring aerobatics by the medium multirole combat aircraft of Lockheed Martin's F-16, Boeing's Super Hornet F/A-18, Gripen of Saab and Rafale of French Dassault and Typhoon of Eurofighter had the crowds in awe.
"It was wonderful and exciting to see the metal birds from so close on ground and in air, performing the way they do in battlefield. It's one event I look forward to every two years," an excited Alok Kumar, a college student, told IANS at the expo.
Echoing Kumar were Ravi Ranjan Singh and Saureb Singh, higher secondary students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, who said they are fascinated by the aircraft, especially the fighters.
"We can walk, run and swim. But we need these magnificent machines to fly like birds. Flying is more challenging than any other feat," said Ravi, a 14-year-old, who dreams of becoming an air force pilot.
Shama (25) and Bindu (20), classmates in a city college, woke up early to make a beeline to the venue to ensure they don't miss the flying display. "This is the second time we are coming to an air show. We see lot of improvement and changes for better. There is more technology and products on display," Shama said after viewing the US pavilion.
Shahid Kapoor, M S Dhoni at Aero India Show
Bangalore, Feb 12 (PTI): Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who is playing the role of a combat aircraft pilot in his upcoming film 'Mausam', was thrilled to fly in a Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft at the Aero India show here.
Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni too was spotted at the show.
"I am very keen to get into F-16 as a co-pilot. I thank IAF and also Lockheed Martin for giving me this opportunity," Shahid told reporters ahead of his flying venture today. The 29-year-old actor had to undergo one month's rigorous training and pass required tests before flying the combat aircraft.
"I think it is a privilege to get an opportunity (to fly a fighter aircraft) which does not come to all," said Shahid, who is the first Bollywood actor to have flown a F-16. 'Mausam' is directed by Shahid's father Pankaj Kapoor, with actress Sonam Kapoor playing the female lead.
Bangaloreans Await Sunday Double Extravaganza
Bangalore, Jan 12 (IANS): Bangaloreans are eagerly awaiting a high-flying Sunday forenoon, and an adrenaline rush starting in the afternoon and going on till in the evening. Hopefully, it will take away the rub of weeks of scandals.
Thousands of Bangaloreans, many with children in tow, will head north of the city centre in the morning to see helicopters and fighter jets weave breathtaking designs in the sky as curtains come down on the AeroIndia 2011 at the sprawling Yelahanka air base.
Hundreds of them will be rushing back to the city, many heading to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, and many more to their homes so as not to miss a ball of the India-Australia warm-up cricket match ahead of the World Cup starting Feb 19.
The AeroIndia show, eighth in the series, has turned out to be a great stage-setter for the cricket fever. The air show organisers expect around 275,000 people for the static and flying display of over 100 military and civil aircraft, including 47 foreign planes and different helicopters before the show concludes Sunday.
Similarly, about 70,000 business delegates from 70 countries would have made a beeline to the military and civil aviation trade show spread over 75,000 square metres. The AeroIndia 2011 was the largest ever hosted by the country with about 675 exhibitors, including 380 from 29 countries and 295 domestic firms, participating in the five-day expo.