Aero India, the mega air exhibition held once every two years, will feature a total of 63 Indian aircraft this year, according to officials at the Ministry of Defense. The massive number of participants is set to break 2019’s record when 61 aircraft were part of the grand show.
Flight displays will kick off with 42 aircraft gathering on the venue. There will be an enthralling display of aircraft varieties in the show and will feature air display and various plans to magnify the limelight of display with maneuvering performances, including Surya Kiran Air Display Tea (SKAT).
A retired IAF C-47 Dakota aircraft will be featured as part of display. It was part of British governed Royal Indian Air Force, which later became part of Indian Air Force after India’s Independence in 1947. As part of legacy showcase, Dakota will be part of the lucrative display in exhibition.
Fifteen thousand people are expected to attend the show in a span of three days, according to IAF sources who mentioned around 15,000 attendees could attend the exhibition.
Air Commodore Sood clarified further that an additional 3,000 people will be allowed to enter the air base with restrictions and will be limited to only air display viewing.
About eleven international aircrafts will participate in the show, officials stated. There will be Air Force delegations, including USAF and French Air Force at the venue. Overall, India will field 63 aircraft, including Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas, Mirage and the newly inducted Rafale as part of the display in addition to helicopter-like Dhruv, Mi-17V5.
In the midst of the pandemic, the show sponsor will strictly establish restrictions on a number of activities for civilian attendees. A five day show has already been reduced to a three-day program with limited public participation and a decrease in the number of air displays to allow for social distancing protocols during active events in the exhibition.
Started in 1996, the show has been held with global participation, making it the second-biggest air expo behind the Paris Air Show. This will be the 13th edition of Aero India and will be held at Yelahanka Air Base in Bengaluru city of India’s southern state Karnataka.
