Spectacle in the sky

Five days of fascinating aerial displays, breathtaking manoeuvres by hyper-agile flying machines, a slew of business deals by global aviation majors... Billed as Asia’s premier airshow, the action-packed ‘Aero India 2015’ is all set to unfold with a splash at the Yelahanka Air Base here on February 18. 

The 10th edition of this aerospace exposition couldn’t have got grander, bigger and more dramatic!  Riveted to the “Make in India” mould, beckoning aviation players to invest locally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally kick off the show.

That break in tradition -- Defence Ministers had launched all previous shows -- would be just the right spark to get the show off the ground. The record list of 623 companies and 300 chief executive officers will then unleash their products, before the public days open for a visual treat in the skies.

Fighter jets from the United States and the French Rafale will be there yet again, showing their prowess to impress the Indian Air Force. Their objective would be clear: To push for a final clearance of the long-pending Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal. Grabbing eyeballs, the American F15-C Eagle from Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 are determined to soar high.

The US Air Forces’ Eagles would fly in from a Japanese base. Once the public get a dose of their formation flights and manoevres, time would be just ripe for the aerial stuntmen and women to take centre stage. On the show agenda are the fabulous Wingwalkers from the globally renowned Scandinavian airshow group, and the Aero Superbatics team from UK.

Walking and dancing to music beats on the aircraft wings, the showmen are all geared up and ready to enthrall Bengalureans like never before in an airshow. Moving beyond their war machines, the Americans too are in aerobatic mode. The US Special Forces will debut with their pulsating open sky jumps. 

On the verge of clinching the MMRCA deal, French major Dassault Aviation will make one final impressive push with three Rafale fighters. But the Sukhoi 30MKIs and the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas wouldn’t let Rafale steal the thunder. HAL and IAF would go all out impressing the global bigwigs and crowds alike, with formation flights galore. 

The French defence minister’s presence at the airshow would underscore the urgency in finalising the Rafale deal. For the record, Rafale had won after a stiff competition from four other aircraft, all vying to meet IAF’s requirement for 126 fighter jets. But the commercial contract impasse would be tough to beat, say insiders. 

IAF would be without the Surya Kirans yet again. That spectacular aerobatic team remain grounded. But the Sarang helicopter team would be there with its classic moves. Also on the aerobatic list are the Flying Bulls from the Czech Republic. The celebrities, who ruled the 2011 air show will be missing. But VIPs could make a suprise entry.

The big boys, the mid-air refuellers and the air reconnaissance aircraft had impressed last time with their mammoth presence. This time, watch out for the gigantic C-17 Globemaster-III take to the skies again. Also on display would be a Boeing KC-135 tanker and Embraer’s EMB-145-I. Don’t miss the business jets too.

The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Bell would rule the copter displays. But Agusta Westland, which always had a big presence in the previous airshows, will be absent. 

But the Italian major, Finmeccanica will be there despite a scam-taint. The Falcon-2000 jets, the Dornier 228, and the Bell 407 helicopter will all be part of the 17 civilian aircraft on display. Watching them all will be record crowds in excess of three lakh, over twice the size of the 2013 airshow turnout.

 The viewers will also include official delegates from 24 countries. Nine of them will be of Defence Minister level, from countries as diverse as Bahrain and Israel, Portugal and Tanzania. 

Here are some reasons why Aero India 2015 could be tough to beat: 1.5 lakh business visitors, up from a lakh the last time; a show area of 24,403 sqm, a big rise from 18,821 sqm two years ago; 72 aircraft; nine service chiefs from as many countries; and record-beating ticket sales.