Aero India 2011 had an impressive line-up of fighters and the aerobatic team of Czech Republic Red Bulls performed in Bengaluru for the first time and stole the limelight. Aero India 2013 is going to be exciting as well; there is a plate full of curry and catalogues waiting.

New Year 2013 saw India preparing for two mega events—the Kumbh Mela that will see more than 11 million people bathing in the Ganges at Allahabad from January to March which is the biggest exercise of its kind anywhere on planet earth, and the international aerospace exhibition and the Aero India air show being organised by the Ministry of Defence from February 6-10, 2013 in Bengaluru. February 2013 is aviation time in India. One of the biggest aerospace events of Asia held every alternate year at Bengaluru, which is the science and technology hub of India. It is the software development capital of the world, which keeps awake when the world sleeps. Most importantly, it is the aviation city of India with corporate headquarters of state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), significant presence of the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), focal point of India’s aviation industry and the Flight Test Centre of Indian Air Force (IAF) which also has the one among the few Flight Test Schools of the world. No wonder the choice of the city for the Aero India air show.

The world’s first air show was the International Air Meet held at Rheims, France, held in 1909. India’s first air show, Avia India, was held in December 1993 in Bengaluru which was a privately organised air show with some help by the government and was a precursor to Aero India. The world’s biggest air show was the 47th Paris Air Show. However, the world’s largest military air show is the Royal International Air Tattoo (RAF Fairford, United Kingdom) held annually in July.

The globally recognised Aero India has already carved a niche for itself as a major aerospace exhibition. This one is the ninth in the series of the show that took off first time in 1996. Aero India 2011 had participants from 30 countries with about 700 companies, more than half of which were from overseas. About 50 delegations, including heads of Air Forces and companies, dug their heels at the event. Exhibition area of 75,000 sq metres including outdoor display area was one and half times than that at the previous event in 2009. Like the earlier years, the ninth edition of Aero India will be held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru. It is expected to provide a platform for networking and hopefully bolstering business opportunities in the international aerospace sector. With over 50 countries expected this year, it is expected to grow substantially. A rapidly growing Indian economy, opening up of defence production to private sector and opportunities for defence offset business, have given a major fillip to the defence industry in India. India is thus poised to become a hub for defence business in the Asian region.

The world traditionally plays host to around 145 aerospace shows/exhibitions of which 27 are held in the US, 53 in Europe and 38 in Asia. China has 12 and India hosts 10 major events which include India Aviation at Hyderabad, Defexpo at New Delhi and the Aero India.

Organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, the Ministry of Defence and held in association with the DRDO, IAF, the Department of Space and the Ministry for Civil Aviation, each edition of Aero India brings in a level of expectation and excitement. Year 2003 was the year awaiting selection of the advanced jet trainer (AJT), saw participation of 22 countries and 176 exhibitors. The inaugural fly past was led by a composite formation comprising an advanced light helicopter (ALH) in the lead, flanked by HJT16 Kiran, Mirage 2000 and Su-30MKI which was a show stealer. The French delegation was led by the Prime Minister of France, Jean-Pierre Raffarin. There were 32 official military delegations and over 2,50,000 visitors at the 2005 show. Spectacular flying performances and static display of the Russian MiG-29K, Su-30MKI and Il-78 tanker; the American F-15E, C-130J Super Hercules and P-3C Orion aircraft; the French duo Mirage 2000 and Falcon 2000; the British Hawk 100, Jaguar and Sea Harriers, the Indian Dhruv advanced light helicopter and intermediate jet trainer (IJT), and the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen. The ALH aerobatic team performance by India’s Sarang (peacock) display team put up an impressive show at the inaugural function. The US maritime surveillance aircraft P-3C Orion and C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft were star attractions on display. The 2007 show had impressive flying performances by F-16 and F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. The show was marred a little bit by two accidents. During the rehearsals for the show, one of the Sarang helicopters crashed on February 2, 2007. However, the team performed the displays in the show. Also during the show, an HAL-built HJT-36 skidded off the runway when a tyre burst after the pilot aborted take-off as the aircraft’s canopy inadvertently opened up.

The seventh show held in February 2009, had 592 exhibitors from over 25 countries making it the largest air show in Asia, and 30 military and civil aircraft participated in flight demonstrations.

Aero India 2011 had an impressive line-up of fighters including F-16, F-18, MiG-35D and Eurofighter. Other aircraft were C-17, Embraer 135 business jet Legacy 600, C-130J, Cessna Citation XLS, G 550, An-12 Cargo, IJT, Dhruv, Hawk and A-310 MRTT. 2011 was to be the final run up to medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) selection process. Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Saab Gripen and the Dassault Rafale put up impressive flight displays. The aerobatic team of Czech Republic Red Bulls performed in Bengaluru for the first time and stole the limelight. China too had its presence.

An important event on the sidelines of the Air show on February 7-8, 2011, was the DRDO organised “International Seminar on the Indian Aerospace Industry”, the theme being “Rising with Collaborative Opportunities”. The sessions include: “Aerospace Industry: Opportunities for Indian Industry across the Segment of Large, Medium and Small Enterprises”, “Integrating Indian Offset Partner in Global Supply Chain”, “Emerging Global Trends in Aerospace Industry”, technical session on “Aerospace Electronics: Avionics, Radars, Surveillance, Control Systems, Unmanned Technologies”, technical session on “Aerospace Structures: Design and Analysis, Materials, Engines, Stealth”, Finally, a technical session on “Aerospace Ground Infrastructure and Support: Training, Air Defence, Simulators, Airports, MRO, Safety”.