An
air Race was organised at Nagpur to mark the centenary of
powered flight in the world. This air race was planned under the
aegis of Aeronautical Society of India while maximum logistic
support was provided by the Indian Air Force.
It
was in 1903 when Wright Brothers took off their Wright Flyer at
Kittyhawk in the United States of America. In 1910, India
started its air journey, when a British aviator Keith Davis of
the Humber Motor Company flew a Bleriot over the Allahabad Polo
Ground.
The
Air Race started on November 20 last from Barrackpore in the
East, Bangalore in South and Goa in West. Among 50 aviators who
participated in the air race with jets, light piston propellers,
powered gliders, microlights and helicopters, 21 were from
Indian Air Force. The air race was divided in four categories-microlight
and powered hang gliders, light aircraft, medium and heavy
aircraft. All the aircraft covered equal distance to finish at
Nagpur.
The
winners of the race were decided on the basis of capability to
obtain optimal performance from the aircraft. A handicap system
was put in to ensure level-playing among counterparts. Eighteen
participants received prizes among whom twelve were from Indian
Air Force. Few special prizes were also given to the
participants. Prizes were given by Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L K
Advani.
An
Air show was also organised to mark the occasion. The aim was to
generate awareness on aviation among general public. Indian Air
Force has organised in recent past a number of air shows in
Chennai, Bangalore, Agartala, Hyderabad and other places.
-Sunil
Tripathi
Pix: VK
Singh and Fulchand Kitadikar
