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Aero India 2019: What makes these eight jets so impressive
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B 52 — The bomberman
Manufacturer: Boeing
Year of origin: 1952
It is expected to continue to serve even in 2050s.
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Sukhoi SU-30MKI — The backbone
Aircraft type: Multirole airsuperiority fighter
Country of origin: Russia
Year of origin: 2002
Unit cost: Rs 358 crore in 2014
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Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) — The Showmen
Aircraft currently used: Hawk MK 132
Aircraft type: Advanced jet trainer (AJT)
Country of origin of aircraft: England
Year of team formation: 1996
Base: Bidar, Karnataka
No of aircraft: 9
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Sarang Display Team — The Peacocks
Aircraft used: HAL Dhruv
Aircraft type: Utility helicopter
Base: Sulur Air Force Station, near Coimbatore
Year of team formation: 2003
Unit cost: Rs 40 crore
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ALH (MK IV) Rudra — Lethal weapon
The HAL rose to the challenge and manufactured ALH Rudra in record time. With its weapon system integrated feature, the machine is a modified version of ALH Dhruv. The helicopter was displayed for the first time at the 2013 Aero India show.
Aircraft type: Advanced light helicopter (ALH)
Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Year of origin: 2013
ET Bureau
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Dakota DC-3 — The vintage
ET takes a look at the history and origin of these jets and finds out what makes them so impressive.
Dakota DC-3 — The vintage
The aircraft that catches one’s attention at the aerial display is the vintage Douglas DC-3, rechristened as Parashurama. An Indian military aircraft, Dakota was at the forefront of operations from 1947 to 1971 and played a pivotal role in the 1947-48 India-Pakistan war.
The old workhorse was fully restored to its original glory in 2018 and it is now part of Bengaluru’s aero show. Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar got the aircraft from scrap in 2011 and restored it to flying condition in UK before gifting it to the IAF.
1944: It was inducted into IAF as the first major transport aircraft.
ET Bureau
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LCA Tejas — The fighter
Aircraft type: Multirole light fighter
Unit cost: Rs 162 crore
Designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Agency with HAL as the principal partner.
Final operational clearance: 2019
ET Bureau