Yelahanka airbase: The Aero India show, which began at Bangalore on Wednesday, is a once in a two-year occasion when magnificent flying machines grip Bangalore's eyeballs like nothing else.
The aviation industry from across the world queued up for the Aero India airshow like never before. So, why should 500 of the world's leading aerospace companies come calling? Well, it seems, it's all about the money.
"Thirty to forty per cent of the order books of Boeing and Airbus are accounted for by Indian companies," says HAL Chairman Ashok Baveja.
The Airbus report puts the worth of India's aviation market at $105 billion over the next 20 years. With buying power like that, there's heavy duty wooing of India.
There's a stark difference in tactics among the various camps to grab eyeballs and the Russians seemed to be sticking to the time-tested ways: "We're trying to show our productions and our development," says a Russian girl.
Their rivals have been more innovative. Well, Lockheed Martin already seemed to have stolen a march over the others, they have ensured that everybody, including the competition, wore Lockheed Martin lineyards with their identity cards.
"Now that you've pointed it out, I'll switch to an HAL lineyard," says says Baveja. Behind the colour, was some aggressive marketing. The Russians have fielded the MiG-35, and it is the first time they are displaying this fighter abroad.
They're serving notice that they will defend what has been for long their turf. Their challengers — the Americans — are relying on their old war horses, the F-16, which has been one of the most visible symbols of American military power.
And when Ratan Tata flies on this aircraft, he will be helping the Americans wrest the midspace, which they hope will give them the edge in the dogfight for the Indian order for 126 fighter aircraft.
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