Bengaluru: As soon as they entered, as if on cue, the crowd made a beeline to the stands from where they could get a better view of the aerial stunts on the final day of ‘Aero India 2025’ on Friday.
Their efforts paid off: the pilots put on a breath-taking show.
They rolled the aircraft zigzagged through the sky flipped them over, and hovered vertically before plunging at full speed—cutting through the air like a bomb—only to pull up again.
The daredevilry drew a collective gasp from the crowd.
The penultimate show at 10.30 am showcased the prowess of 10 aircraft, including the popular Russian Su-57 and the American F-16, along with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)’s LUH, HTT-40, LCA Mk-1A, and IJT.
The Indian Air Force’s Su-30 MKI and nine HAWKs flown by the renowned Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) also participated along with National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)’s Hansa and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s FTB.
In the final aerial display at 2.30 pm, which also showcased 10 aircraft the American F-16 was replaced with another American aircraft, the KC-135.
Meanwhile, the exhibitors, thanks to the fifth-day fatigue and the pressing crowd, were seen putting their things together already waiting to leave as soon as they could.
But mostly the exhibitors were a happy lot.
Siddhant Singh Chauhan, Senior Manager of Business Communications at Boeing, said he was thrilled as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Boeing stall on the inaugural day.
Chauhan said he also was happy with the response that Boeing’s AI-driven presentation got.
In what looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie, people learnt about Boeing’s product portfolio in a sensor-activated transparent screen with the flick of their hands.
Vasilii Fainveits, CEO, CTO & Founder of Latvia-based Fixar, a software and aircraft design developing firm said he found a perfect partner in Hyderabad-based Aksi Aerospace Group.
With their help, said Fainveits he would be able to scale up the production of his ‘luxury’ drone Fixar 007, a fully autonomous, vertical take-off and landing drone giving them the advantage of pricing it cost-effectively.
“We are also planning to name the drone Shiv, as a nod to one of my good friends who passed away recently and who happened to be Indian,” said Fainvveits to news agency.
Arjun Naik, Founder and CEO of Scandron, a Bengaluru-based logistics and surveillance drone manufacturer who launched his 200-kg capacity logistic drone during ‘Aero India 2025’ felt the heat most as his drones were displayed right by the hangar where the roar of the aircraft was almost a constant background noise.
“You get used to it, believe me,” Naik insisted to news agency , even as visitors to his stall instinctively closed their ears whenever flights roared past them. Stalls displaying crowd-favourite things—like military outfits and SKAT souvenirs—were filled to the brim even on the last day.
Especially SKAT souvenir stall, as has been the case on all days, saw a swell in the crowd every time the famous aerial acrobats put up a show.