Aero India 2019: IAF teams fly in 'missing man' formation to pay tribute to fallen colleague on day 1 of show
Aero India show’s 12th edition commenced at Yelahanka Air Force base, with aerial displays by Rafale, Tejas, Sukhoi aircraft and combat helicopters
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Aero India show’s 12th edition commenced on Wednesday at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force base. On the first day of the five-day show, the beginning was a sombre one as a two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi, who lost his life when two Surya Kiran aircraft collided mid-air during rehearsal on Tuesday. The Surya Kiran aerobatics team, comprising of nine aircraft, did not participate in the show. AP
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The enthralling show began with French aviation major Dassault’s Rafale jet taking to the skies. The multi-role medium combat aircraft was being flown at a slow speed in order to pay tribute to Sahil Gandhi. PTI
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Three Indian Air Force fighter jets, with a Sukhoi-30 in the middle and LCA and Jaguar fighter jets on the side flew in the missing man formation in another tribute to Sahil Gandhi. On the first day, Lockheed Martin’s F-21 multi-role fighter jet was also unveiled. The aircraft will be manufactured under the Make in India initiative. PTI
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IAF’s helicopter aerobatic team Sarang put up a delightful performance for the thousands of people in the crowds, ending the display with a split manoeuvre. AP
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The Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) paid homage to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had named the fighter jet ‘Tejas’. PTI
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The Dakota, Douglas DC-3 and Airbus 330-900 also left the audience speechless with spectacular fly-pasts. Seen here is the IAF’s MiG-21 aircraft. PTI
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Sixty-one aircraft registered for flying and static display this year, while 373 aerospace firms registered for participation in the expo. Seen here are training aircraft Dornier, Hawk and HTT-40 in a flypast. PTI
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