Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy will pilot an HPT-32 aircraft from Bangalore to Tiruchirappali on Thursday to kick off the Air Race India 2003, which marks the first centennial of the historic flight by the Wright brothers.

Rudy, a commercial pilot license holder, will fly at a speed of 95 nautical miles at an altitude of  7,500 feet following the Cauvery river from Mettur to touch Tiruchirappali.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, will witness the event.

Nineteen aircraft from Bangalore will participate in the southern leg of the race, that has stops at Arakkonam and Bidar, before culminating in Nagpur on November 22, organising committee chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Ajit Lamba told reporters.

Over 50 aircraft, including three from the defence services, will fly in the race. The event is being organised by the Aeronautical Society of India and aircraft will take off simultaneously from the North, East, West and South of the country.

Lamba said the Indian Air Force has made arrangements for the participants to use its bases and will offer tracking and emergency services for the event.