Inaugurating the Aero India-2013 here at Yelhanka Air Force Station on Wednesday, the Indian Defence Minister AK Antony appealed to all stakeholders of defence industry to take advantage of the revised Defence Procurement Policy initiative and develop world-class products and technologies so as to make India a hub in the entire South Asia. He hoped that this premier air show of Asia will provide enough avenues for growth of Indian aerospace industry.

This 9th edition of Aero India would provide enormous business opportunity not only to India but also to different regional markets of the world, he said.

The Indian Defence Minister, on this occasion, unveiled Aero Space Policy of Karnataka state in the presence of Chief Minister Jagdish Shivappa Shettar.

The 10th Aero India will be held at Bengaluru on February 18-22, 2015.

Speaking on the occasion, the Indian Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh described Aero India as a ‘knowledge platform’. Giving a brief report card of Indian aviation, he said that since this was one of the fastest growing aviation sectors in the world, concentrated efforts have to be made by all stakeholders to sustain this momentum.
However, the spectators eagerly await for the beautiful ‘Sarang’ dances with the thundering ‘Bulls’ and valiant ‘Knights’ in the sky.

‘Sarang’, the helicopter display team of the Indian Air Force will be displaying their thunderous stunts with ‘Flying Bulls’ of Czech Republic and ‘Russian Knights’ of Russia.

Sarang team flies four HAL Dhruvs. The name Sarang means Peacock, is symbolic as it is the national bird of India. Dhruv (Rudra) is also on a static display for viewers. The team was formed in October 2003 and their first public performance was at the Asian Aerospace Show, Singapore, 2004. It is the regular performer of Aero India and Air Force day Parade.

Flying Bulls is one of the most accomplished European aerobatics team. It has been a member of the Red Bull family. The Flying Bulls aerobatics team consists of four pilots (three men and one woman), and they present formation aerobatics of unbelievable precision. Team’s history began back in 1960. First as 'Box Trener' and then as 'Sky Box', it spent decades as a symbol for peerless flying skill with Zlin 50 LX and other aircraft.

The Russian Knights aerobatic demonstration team of the Russian Air Force will perform ten demonstration flights during Aero India. The Russian Knights formed on April 5, 1991 at the Kubinka Air Base, Russia with six Sukhoi Su-27s but now performs with four Su-27Ps and two Su-27UBs

With induction of Pilatus PC-7 Mark-II trainer aircraft, the Indian Air Force trainee pilots will now get a new set of wings to learn their basic flying skills. Swiss made Pilatus also knows as ‘Astra’ would fill the void in basic flying training after indigenous HPT-32 Deepak was grounded around two years back.

Pilatus would also draw a lot of attraction during Aero India-2013, Asia’s premier Air Show being held at Air Force Station, Yelhanka, Bangalore between February 6-10, 2013. “It is an excellent training aircraft. Flying in new aircraft is always a fine experience. I enjoyed my flight from Hyderabad to Yelhanka ”, said squadron leader Sushant Mitra of Indian Air Force after landing at Yelhanka in the Pilatus. His co-pilot Stefan Greub, who came from Switzerland as a test pilot described Pilatus as a superior training aircraft. He said that “safety, instruments, controls systems and flexibility of avionics configuration are key features of the Pilatus”

Pilatus named after a mountain in central Switzerland is an improved version of the PC-9's airframe and avionics, fitted with the PC-7's smaller turbine ensures lower operating and maintenance costs. “It would provide Stage-I flying training and also help streamline flying training of Stages II and III which had to be modified earlier in absence of the basic trainer.” said a Senior Officer of IAF during interaction on condition of anonymity. He said that “Pilatus would provide even better preparation during Stage-I flying training so that training for operational pilots can take place in quicker time frame.”

Pilatus would thus lay the foundation for future generations of Indian Air Force pilots. While being the smallest aircraft in the IAF inventory, the Pilatus would shoulder a much heavier responsibility in building future generation of the IAF pilots.

The Secretary, Defence Production RK Mathur, FICCI President Naina Lal Kidwai, also spoke on the occasion. Marshal of The Air Force Arjan Singh, Minister of State For Defence Jitendra Singh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N A K Brown, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DG, DRDO Dr V K Saraswat and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma were also present.