Aero India Day 3: Bulls missing in action from Sky Party

Bengaluru, Feb 20: Aero India 2015 lost a bit of its sheen with the popular sky stunt team Flying Bulls staying grounded on Friday. It's certain that the 10th edition of Aero India will now be minus the Flying Bulls, one of the most-watched and talked-about aerobatic teams in the world.

As reported earlier, a major tragedy was averted on Thursday when two aircraft from the Bulls had a close shave while performing a difficult loop.
One aircraft landed with a broken propeller, while another had damages on the wing.

Sources at the Air Traffic Control in Air Force Station Yelahanka told OneIndia that the lead pilot of the Flying Bulls, Radka Machova, ‘lost the lift' which resulted in an increase in the drag.

"This has resulted in the accident. We have not derived at this conclusion, but based on what the pilot told us during the debriefing. She came in contact with the other aircraft after losing the lift," an official at the ATC said.

Pilots exhibited great skills

Despite the mid-air incident, the official said that the pilots exhibited great skills and landed the aircraft safe.

The official confirmed that the lead pilot's aircraft had a problem with the propeller, forcing her to glide the aircraft while landing.

"The winger exhibited more skill while landing with a damaged wing," the official added.

"The landing was amazing and it ensured absolute safety. We cleared the runway within 40 minutes," the official added.

The official said that the flying display teams are warned if they crossed the ‘line of control.'

"We give a warning first and even have the powers to take them off the show," an official added.

The business hours of air show ends

The business hours of Aero India concluded today with some of the companies having already wound up their stalls.

The focus will now shift to public days on Saturday and Sunday and the organisers have made elaborate arrangements expecting a massive turn out.

The Air Display Viewing Area (ADVA), situated outside AFS Yelahanka, has been put under two layers of security this time.

Around one lakh visitors are expected during the next two days of the show.

OneIndia News