Date:08/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/08/stories/2007020818220200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Scenes from a star-studded show

Staff Reporter

Ratan Tata to take to the skies in F-16 aircraft today

ALL SET TO SOAR: Chairman of the Tata Group Ratan Tata (centre) at Aero India 2007 in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Ratan Tata ended up being the star attraction on the first day of Aero India 2007.

As soon as he entered the VIP viewing area, the media mobbed him.

Even Defence Minister A.K. Antony did not grab that much spotlight.

Mr. Tata was quizzed relentlessly about his proposed flight in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon. Then he was taken to the aircraft, to familiarise him with the procedures.

He tried on the pilot's uniform including the g-suit and spent about 15 minutes in the rear cockpit listening to instructions from the pilots.

U.S. Ambassador to India David Mulford has been aggressively campaigning for the American companies that are competing for the multi-role fighter contract.

He wasted no time in greeting senior Indian Air Force officers including Air Chief Marshal, S.P. Tyagi.

Discussions

The Defence Minister, meanwhile, was having quiet discussions away from the media glare.

Dressed in his trademark white shirt and dhoti, it was quite surprising to find him in the lunch area unassumingly mingling with the participants in the aviation fest.

It was only the presence of his protocol officers that gave away his position of power.

The morning's air display was as spectacular as it was billed, but the crowd seemed to be more interested in getting on with the tea break and serious business afterwards. After the inaugural function, the viewing area, which had chairs immaculately draped in white cloth, wore a rather bare look. Mr. Tata and a select few are lucky enough to be able to fly in what is every man's dream.

But for lesser mortals there is always a simulator. Every aircraft simulator in the expo had a waiting list if you wanted to try your hand at it.