Ratan Tata takes to the skies in F-18 Super Hornet

Bangalore, Feb 10 (PTI) Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tatatoday took to the skies as he co-piloted US aerospace majorBoeing''s F-18, the Super Hornet, at the eighth edition ofpremier airshow, Aero India 2011.

Boeing is one of the six competitors bidding for the 126Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft deal touted to be valued atUSD 10 billion from the Indian Air Force.

An aviation enthusiast, Tata, who has also flown aircraftat earlier air shows, was in the air for around 45 minutesbefore the aircraft landed.

"I am excited", he said and described the F-18 "as a greataircraft".

The other competitors eyeing to garner the deal areLockheed Martin''s F-16 (US), the French Rafale, Swedish''sGripen, Russian MIG 35 and the European Eurofighter Typhoon.