[Rajain]

Bangalore Aero Show Feb 2015 - A Short Trip Report


The bi-annual spectacular show in the skies, the Bangalore aero show was kicked off in style by the Prime Minister last week. It is believed that more than 300 aviation companies from across the world participated in the exhibition and showcased their latest offerings. The show, not just for defence and aviation sector companies but for those lesser mortals who could get a chance to see up close and personal these lovely metal birds.

For all of us, who love our machines and engines, this was a not to be missed extravaganza.

Ticketing experience - As soon as the information on the tickets was confirmed, one can understand how many thousands made a beeline for getting tickets. The local newspapers as well as online media was abuzz with the security checks and various requirements around parking and reaching the venue on time. Kudos to the organisers who did such a fabulous job of crowd management and the police for ensuring safety of the international visitors. The event website was easy to navigate and book the ticket. One was amazed with the detailing required for book a ticket. All for a good cause. As ultimately security for an event of this scale is prime.

Traffic management - As expected the working days till Friday saw a more business and perhaps not as many visitors. And with the all important India-South Africa cricket match coming up on Sunday, it was expected that Saturday would be the main day for the visitors. I read from the newspapers that more than a lakh people visited the aero show. And to make sure all get to the venue without clogging the airport road was itself commendable. So what if the traffic was moving at a snails pace. Once at the venue ample parking was available. Of course, when I came up, dear Ertiga was covered in dust.

Crowd Management - The way it was set up was that one had to get the online confirmation email printout and a ticket would be issued against it at the venue. Given the thousands of cars that were heading towards the venue, I thought it will be an equally long queue to get the tickets but thankfully that was also smooth. The crowd management by the CISF, local police and the air force personnel was pretty good. The security check was smooth and we were inside. It took about 3 hours from the time I started from my house in HSR Layout to the final place just next to the runway. As a comparison, it takes me about 75-90 minutes for the airport. So you can say the traffic took 90 minutes extra. Now consider the thousands who were heading there and you will realise the agencies did do a reasonable job.

Once inside there was adequate toilet facilities, eating (which was inadequate), drinking water, emergency response, public announcements and covered area (from the sun).

There were two sections - one for which the fee was 2500 per ticket and the other for which there was a fee of 600 per ticket. After reaching inside we tried in vain to get something to eat but the queues were longer than an aeroplane. So, we gave up. Instead we settled for something easier and went straight to the place from where the show would begin.

The Air Show - There were 2 shows per day - one in the morning and the second in the afternoon. Each show lasted about 2.5 hours. The entry ticket meant one could stay on the full day and watch the show again in the afternoon. We had planned to get there only for the afternoon show.

In the pictures below there are British aerobatics team Breitling Wingwalkers, the indigenously manufactured Indian Air Force Dhruv helicopters doing the formation, an Indian air force recee/air surveillance plane, the Russian aerobatic team Yakovlev, the U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft, and the Rafael multirole combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation of France.


Enjoy the pictures -

[Rajain]

All in all a great show put up by the various agencies. It took another 2 hours by the time I could get home. The thunderous sound of thousands of horsepower engines, amazing agility and speed remain etched.

More pictures from the aero show. Enjoy

[hillsnrains]

Yesterday I have been to the show and returned back by noon. Next time, I'll never go on a weekend, that too on the last day i.e Sunday. We were lucky to have returned by noon, otherwise we would have reached home only by 6-7 PM. One of my colleagues left home @ 9 AM (Whitefield), reached the show venue only by 1 PM and was back home by 7 PM.

Now my share of pictures:

[AutoIndian]

Originally Posted by Rajain

All in all a great show put up by the various agencies. It took another 2 hours by the time I could get home. The thunderous sound of thousands of horsepower engines, amazing agility and speed remain etched.

More pictures from the aero show. Enjoy

Thank you for sharing the pictures. These are absolutely stunning. I would really appreciate if you can add captions with the model names if you know them.

[majumon]

It is always crowded on the last 2 days of the show and year on year it has been increasing. The only other way is to leave home really early and start to leave the show as soon as you get the feeling that the major part of the show is over.

Had been there yesterday too and while returning after the morning show we were stuck just after the parking lot in the car for more than 30 minutes without moving even an inch.

For a first timer to see the Air show it definitely is something to see, feel and experience. For the regulars its better to watch from some other vantage points outside the area to beat the crowd and time especially on the last 2 days.

[LoneRidder]

I had my opportunity to visit Aero Show yesterday. Expecting the possibility of huge crowd, I had planned to reach by 8:00 am and by then already there was enough gathering. Compared to earlier years, this year, the visitors were more, and the authorities had well planned the whole event. The complete area was well controlled and coordinated. Definitely the organizers deserve full appreciation. Bangalore Traffic Police too did a good work!

As the crowd was gathering the IAF teams began their early few displays by around 9:30 am.


The acrobat display began with Scandinavian Air Show Team (Sweden) showing off their skills!






Following this was our own Indian Air Force light combat aircraft Tejas showcasing its skills.

Then this HAL LCH too shared few tricks!

Then my personal favorite Sukhoi Su-30, some maneuvers were mindboggling!



Following this was our own Indian Air Force light combat aircraft Tejas showcasing its skills.


The colorful British aerobatics team Breitling Wingwalkers came with their stunning performance. I later got to know the members standing on top of the aircrafts were daring women!






Then followed the thundering Rafale multi-role combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation of France.



We had the ‘Big Brother’ U.S. Air Force Globemaster slowly but sturdily taking off!

[LoneRidder]

As we were wondering where Globemaster has gone, there came a super display of coordination and sequencing from the UK aerobatic team Yakovlev on Russian aircraft of the same name. Some of their stunts were too close and mindstuck!













As the Yakovlev showed their skills, we had few IAF personal coming from the skies in their parachute, which were dropped from Globemaster, way way high in the sky.

And finally the ‘show-stoppers’ were Indian Air Force Dhruv manufactured by HAL. The IAF Sarang team was the highlight of the show. Few stunts were very risky and it made us to ask for more!







Not having RedBulls, due to the previous days accident, was as real disappointment. However, it was worth for the early morning efforts and the burning sun above the sky.

Thought the next show was starting at 2:00 pm, to beat the traffic, we started at 1:45. The exit was slow, but i guess it was well managed, compared to the volume of vehicles.

Few years back, we lived next to the HAL airport runway. In 2007 when a Sukhoi was practising a free fall and the sudden takeoff, due to the effusive sound our showcase glasses was completely shattered. The Aero India has grown by years. Hope we have show back in Bangalore in 2017 again!

[prguru]

Thanks for the pics guys, nice clicks I missed it this time !

Originally Posted by LoneRidder

Hope we have show back in Bangalore in 2017 again!

I heard a few saying the next aero india will happen in some other state , is this true ? Can somebody please confirm.

[Rajain]

Hi

I was seated in the general viewing area. Here the announcements or brochure of those in the aero show was not available. So I have tried my best and found some of those who participated in the aero show.

These are the ones I got to know

British aerobatics team Breitling Wingwalkers




Indigenously manufactured Indian Air Force Dhruv helicopters




Russian aerobatic team Yakovlev




U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft




Rafael multirole combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation of France




Embraer EMB-145I aircraft fitted with the country's first indigenous airborne radar system called the Airborne Early Warning and Control System



Some other pictures of the day.

Various headgear to keep sun away.















And a vantage position all of us as kids would have enjoyed.




And yes there was popcorn too

[Lukeskywalker]

I had been to the Aero India 2015 show on the last day, thanks to a mutual friend who's an IAF personnel, I got the opportunity to photograph the amazing planes from across the runway. Here are the pics

[Lukeskywalker]

[Lukeskywalker]

[Lukeskywalker]

[Lukeskywalker]

[Lukeskywalker]