There’s excitement in the air. The Aero Show 2011 is just a few hours away and people have been eagerly scanning papers for details. Aviation enthusiasts have been waiting with bated breath to watch their favourite aircraft soar the skies.

Participation in this year’s air show has shot up and the best of the aviation entrepreneurs from across the world are descending in the City for the air show.

About 70 participants and more than three lakh people are expected to arrive to watch the grand spectacle in the skies. In addition to top business tycoons, actors like John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor and Juhi Chawla will add that tinge of glamour and excitement to the show.

Metrolife spoke to the organisers and the people who are all set to go to the air show. They say they booked the tickets two months in advance to make sure they don’t lose out.

The entire air show is set in an area of 75,000 sqm. There will be five permanent halls and seven temporary halls. There will be 675 exhibitors, of which 380 will be overseas and 295 will be domestic. Aircraft manufacturers from about 20 countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Russia, Israel, Brazil, Ukraine and the Netherlands, will participate.  

An official with the defence said that two Eurofighter Typhoons of the Italian Air Force have arrived at Yelahanka Air Force station.

“The Aero India will have aerobatic shows by the Surya Kiran and Sarang teams of the Indian Air Force. There will also be manoeuvres and aerobatics from MiG-35, MiG-29, Globemaster C-13, Boeing P-8I, Russian SU-30 aircraft, Jaguar aircrafts,” explains the official. A surprise addition to this year’s show will be the Flying Bulls team from Austria who will enthrall the public with their aerobatic skills.

Among those who go to the air show every year are aviation enthusiasts and those who have been following the developments in the industry very closely.

It’s the various aircrafts that attract them the most. Sivadas, an aviation enthusiast observes that there have been tremendous developments in aviation technology.

 “We are lucky to get an opportunity to witness this sophisticated technology live. I don’t miss the air show. I am waiting to watch the performance by fighters like SU30. It’s an amazing experience,” says Sivadas. Youngsters too make sure they keep a track of what is happening the aviation circle. And the air show excites them just as much as a live rock show would. Neema Nair, a student has been a regular to the show for the last seven years.

“The air show has inspired me to join the Indian Air Force. I must say that I was fortunate enough to have got a chance to sit in the cockpit of one of the helicopters displayed at the event. We get to see the latest innovations in aircraft designing made by different countries across the globe,” says Neema who can’t wait to see the Surya Kirans.  

Prerna S, an engineering student confesses that she’s an aspiring pilot.

“Watching every move and listening to the sound of these giant birds have been exciting for me,” says Prerna. She is looking forward to performances by Surya Kirans in addition to those by Eurofighter Typhoons of the Italian Air Force and the Dreamliners-large-scale models of the Boeing.