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Impressive display at Aero India 2011

South Asia's top air show Aero India 2011 took-off on an impressive note with an exquisite flying display and mid-air manoeuvres by Indian and foreign aircraft.

Inaugurating the show, Defence Minister A K Antony said that the international participation has gone up by 25 per cent when compared to the edition held last year.

The growing participation only signified that there is an increase in peace and stability in the region, the defence minister said, adding that Aero India-2011 will showcase the latest technologies in the field of military and civil aviation.

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Additional Inputs: Agencies

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

After the inaugural ceremony at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, Indian and foreign aircraft and indigenous helicopters held centre stage with an impressive flypast at the biennial, five-day aerospace show.

Five units of home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, recently given initial operational clearance, stole the show with breathtaking vertical loops and mid-air manoeuvres, demonstrating their aerial agility and quick manoeuvrability.

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

The fly-past took off with Mi-8 formation flying mid-air with the tricolour and flags of Indian Air Force and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as India and participating nations demonstrated their air prowess.

Dornier conducted the 'small boy formation", while Jaguars demonstrated an "arrowhead formation" in the two-hour display, which also involved Sukhoi-30 MKI with their short take-offs and "Trishul formation".

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

The azure skies were streaked with smoky trails as aircraft performed aerial cartwheels and nosedives, rolled over and stood almost stationary.

The air show took off with MI 17 formation, marking the beginning of the event.

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

The Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran aerobatics team, with its Kiran Mk-II jet trainers, demonstrated aerobatics. The orange and white aircraft performed barrel looping and rolling, criss-crossing into a bow-like loop.

But it was their signature manoeuvre of sky writing the alphabets IAF through a smoky trail that received the loudest applause.

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

The team also formed a delta and flew with lights on, smoking the colours of the Indian flag.

Their performance concluded with the 'bomb burst' formation, which dispersed in various directions.

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

Sarang, the helicopter display team of IAF, exhibited a scintillating aerial ballet, including the inverted wine glass formation.

The team, a regular at other international aero shows, utilised the steep bank angles, high rate of rolls and pull ups to weave magical patterns in the sky.

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

Air displays will be held twice on all days. The displays will be held between 10 am and 2.30 pm and 2.30 pm and 5 pm.

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

The five-day event will also witness 350 business delegations from the United States, Italy and Germany.

An estimated 2 lakh people are likely to take part in the event. Countries such as Vietnam, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan are also participating in this event.

Impressive display at Aero India 2011

The key attractions at the event will be the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, C-17 Globemaster III and the C-130J Hercules.

The Boeings F-18 Super Hornet Block II is also on display and is one among the six contenders for India's Rs 42,000 crore contract, which will procure 126 medium weight multi role combat aircraft.