<div>If the Jaguars, Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, Boeings F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Saab Gripen and Dassault Rafale ruled the 2011 Aero India, the last edition had only a handful of fighters: The Su-30s, LCAs, F16s and Rafale.<br /><br />Celebrities had flocked to the 2011 show, including Ratan Tata and Shahid Kapur. But no big names turned up for the 2013 edition. Even the famed Russian Knights arrived only on the third day of the show. This meant those who had bought tickets for the first two days did not get a chance to view the aerobatics team flying the fantastically agile Su-27 aircraft. <br /><br />In all, as many as 78 countries sent their delegations to the last air show. It was much more than the 45 nations who showed interest in the largest aerospace exhibition in this part of the world. <br /><br />The star attraction at Aero India 2013 was the behemoth, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III. The Pilatus PC-7 trainer and the vintage Tiger Moth de Havilland DH82 basic trainer aircraft were also seen for the first time. Though late, the Russian Knights performed on the public days. The crowds enjoyed it, along with the Czech Flying Bulls’ aerobatics and the displays by Indian Air Force’s Sarang.<br /><br />Saab’s JAS 37 Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, MiG 35 and Boeing A/F18 were all there in a big way at the Aero India 2011. They were conspicuously absent in the 2013 edition. But Israel’s Rafael had an imposing presence, displaying its air and missile defence system Iron Dome. <br /><br />The static models were aplenty. But what stood out was a scale model of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, rechristened as the Prospective Multirole Fighter, an aircraft poised for joint development by India and Russia. A deal to this effect was inked by the Russians and HAL. <br /><br />The Americans had the largest presence. However, the participation was equally robust from France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Israel and Belgium. As many as 700 companies took part in Aero India 2013, making it a record. Ticket sales crossed three lakh, which was another record-breaking feat. </div>
<div>If the Jaguars, Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, Boeings F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Saab Gripen and Dassault Rafale ruled the 2011 Aero India, the last edition had only a handful of fighters: The Su-30s, LCAs, F16s and Rafale.<br /><br />Celebrities had flocked to the 2011 show, including Ratan Tata and Shahid Kapur. But no big names turned up for the 2013 edition. Even the famed Russian Knights arrived only on the third day of the show. This meant those who had bought tickets for the first two days did not get a chance to view the aerobatics team flying the fantastically agile Su-27 aircraft. <br /><br />In all, as many as 78 countries sent their delegations to the last air show. It was much more than the 45 nations who showed interest in the largest aerospace exhibition in this part of the world. <br /><br />The star attraction at Aero India 2013 was the behemoth, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III. The Pilatus PC-7 trainer and the vintage Tiger Moth de Havilland DH82 basic trainer aircraft were also seen for the first time. Though late, the Russian Knights performed on the public days. The crowds enjoyed it, along with the Czech Flying Bulls’ aerobatics and the displays by Indian Air Force’s Sarang.<br /><br />Saab’s JAS 37 Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, MiG 35 and Boeing A/F18 were all there in a big way at the Aero India 2011. They were conspicuously absent in the 2013 edition. But Israel’s Rafael had an imposing presence, displaying its air and missile defence system Iron Dome. <br /><br />The static models were aplenty. But what stood out was a scale model of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, rechristened as the Prospective Multirole Fighter, an aircraft poised for joint development by India and Russia. A deal to this effect was inked by the Russians and HAL. <br /><br />The Americans had the largest presence. However, the participation was equally robust from France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Israel and Belgium. As many as 700 companies took part in Aero India 2013, making it a record. Ticket sales crossed three lakh, which was another record-breaking feat. </div>
