Spinning Magic and Winning Hearts: Aero India 2019

Aero India 2019 a biennial air show, the event which is hosted in Bengaluru at the Yelahanka Air Force Station, organised by the likes of Defence Ministry of India, the Indian Air Force, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Union Civil Aviation Ministry etc, is marked as the biggest air show in Asia. The anticipation for this event starts building months in advance as it opens doors to the civilians who are treated to some brilliant air displays. 

With tickets booked well in advance, we were anxiously waiting for the day to catch our pilots in action and taking control of the skies. Unfortunately, the Aero India show started on an extremely sombre note with a terrible accident which happened just before the inauguration day when two aircraft of Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) collided in mid-air leaving one of their pilots dead and two gravely injured. As news started pouring in, we were numbed with shock and disbelief. We were once again exposed to the uncertainty and fragility of life and it left us sad. But as they say, the show must go on and the Aero India 2019 kicked off with a fitting aerial tribute being paid to the martyred hero.  The Surya Kirans’ performance was however cancelled following the tragedy.

We were slated to visit the air display on the penultimate day. Given the kind of traffic that Yelahanka experiences during these five days and our experience of the previous show, we left early and were cautious enough not to miss the entry gates as we neared the base. As we parked our cars and made our way towards the security check, we were pleasantly surprised to see the familiar red and white beauties, the Hawks of the Surya Kirans gliding above us. Instead of their customary nine aircraft, they flew seven and performed for 15 minutes. It was such a treat and heart-warming to see these men flying in the skies, despite the tragedy that had befallen them. This is what sets them apart from us, their grit, their commitment and their strength to bounce back within such a short span of time. Our hearts were brimming with awe and respect and even got a little teary eye too as later, we got to know that they performed as a tribute to their friend and teammate.

By this time, we had reached the viewing area which was teeming with people and aviation enthusiasts. Soon it was time for the Yakovlev Aerobatic Team from UK to take over the skies from the SKAT. The Yakovlevs are stunners and their thrilling manoeuvres made the crowd scream at the top of their voices. As the Yakovlevs touched down, we heard a familiar roar of engines and strained our eyes to see where it was coming from. Just as we were wondering what it was, India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas appeared out of the clear blue skies. Oh what a beauty it was! No wonder it sounded familiar as by now, by virtue of living close to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), we have these beasts flying over us every day. Tejas received its final operational clearance at the ongoing Aero India show and will now be inducted into Indian Air Force. 

As the Tejas landed amidst loud cheer from the people, Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft took off from the runaway in front of us at a tremendous speed. It proudly showed off its moves and spiralled up before disappearing into the clear blue skies. 

Just as we were recovering from this ‘beastly’ performance, HAL manufactured helicopters belonging to Indian Army made their way toward the spectators. HAL’s indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (Rudra), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) flew in one by one to showcase their features and capabilities. LCH are sleek and equipped with advanced technologies for combat. Helicopters flying up vertically and diving nose down is not something that we see every day and it enthralled the crowd. 

If these displays were exciting, USA’s F-16 supersonic fighter jets stole the show with their lightening speed. They pierced through the blue skies with a huge roar and watching it perform was an experience. After the rather energetic performance by the fighter aircraft, it was time for a more relaxed display by a Dakota heritage aircraft. One of India’s first aircraft in the battle zone, the Dakota was decommissioned but was resurrected in 2011. 

The grand finale was highlighted by the team Sarang, the helicopter aerobatic team of Indian Air Force (IAF). The four Dhruv helicopters performed fantastic manoeuvres and it was a treat to witness them create magic in the skies. They ended with creating a heart for the spectators of Bengaluru drawing huge cheers and applause from the crowd. The Sarang is not only an aerobatic team; they are regularly used for rescue and disaster operations in different parts of the country. Very recently the four helicopters played a key role during the Kerala floods and are an important part of the IAF. 

Misfortune seems to be towing Aero India from the very start of the event. While the death of a pilot marred the excitement of the very start, a massive fire in one of the parking lots of the show on the penultimate day seized the limelight away from the air display. As we were getting ready to leave, black smoke billowing out from an adjacent area caught the attention of all visitors and with time it only became worse. The announcers allayed our fears by claiming everything was under control. Only when we left the venue, news start pouring in that a freak fire from dry grass had spread quickly and burnt approximately 300 cars. 

While we were bowled over by the brilliant display and performances, we cannot help but be affected by the tragedies that struck the show one after the other. We look forward to a happier event in 2021 and end with a silent prayer for the young IAF pilot who lost his life.  

Text: Monami Guha Das/ Photos: Debaditya Das

HAL Dhruv helicopter carrying a vehicle

HAL's LCH presenting stunning performance

Dakota heritage aircraft performs for spectators