Aero India 2015: City can’t get enough of mid-air thrills

Bengaluru: They braved the longest traffic congestion, the hot sun, and worse, all to watch some of the world’s most sophisticated fighter jets and the world’s most lovable aerobatic teams as the biannual air show opened for the public on Saturday. And they – Bengalureans - were not a few themselves, but a hundred thousand by rough estimate, jostling to get in and angling for the right spots around the runway at the Yelahanka air force station.   

America’s F-16 Falcon, the French Rafale, over which negotiations are on to acquire 126 of the jets for the Indian Air Force, and the gold standard of Aero India for a number of years now, and the IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKI left the crowds dazzled with their feats. The Tejas light combat aircraft, India’s pride, showed that its capabilities are growing. And the breathtaking Breitling Wing Walkers girls, the Yakovlev and the Scandinavian aerobatics display teams won the hearts, and were mobbed for autographs.     

“From the business point of view, it’s too early to come to conclusions about the gains made during Aero India, but the Make in India theme has caught on successfully and has gotten the attention of both Indian and foreign defence equipment makers. These companies now know India has the potential to step up manufacturing capabilities in the defence sector, especially in aerospace,” said a Ministry of Defence official.

“But as far as the general public is concerned, what we have seen is a huge demand for passes and tickets to watch the air show. It’s getting bigger with every edition, and the huge public response on Saturday proves it.” Some one lakh people were estimated to have watched the air show on Saturday. The organizers expect an even bigger crowd on Sunday, the last day of the event.