In Pics: Daredevil aerobatics, fighter jets on display at Aero India 2017

Bengaluru’s skies above its Yelahanka airbase has been buzzing with fighter jets and helicopters and has been witnessing aerobatics as a part of the 11th edition of the Aero India 2017 show.

The who’s who of the global aerospace industry congregated in Bengaluru on February 14-18 to take part in Asia’s largest airshow Aero India-2017.

Pilots of Britain's aerobatic team, Yakovlevs perform aerial stunts during a display on the third day of the 11th edition of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru on February 16, 2017. (AFP)

A breathtaking display of thrilling manoeuvres by military aircraft and aerobatic teams left the audience spell-bound at the opening of the 11th edition of Aero India air show.

The Bengaluru skies over the Yelahanka airbase were dazzled with somersaults and stunts by metal birds with the daredevilry of world famous aerobatics teams in full flow.

Billed as Asia’s premier air show, the biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition - Aero India 2017 was inaugurated by defence minister Manohar Parrikar.

Betting high on the defence market in India, global aerospace giants are hard selling their wares with potential deals worth billions of Dollars on offer.

A total of 549 companies are taking part in the event, of which 270 are Indian and 279 foreign. Mi-17 helicopters, indigenously built HAL products comprising Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) flanked by Cheetal helicopter, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), formation comprising Dornier Do 228, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft) and Hawk and others have been showcased at the event by India.

United Kingdom's aerobatic team Yakovlves performs during the 2nd day of the 11th biennial edition of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka Air base in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The five-day event will see firms from Russia, Europe, Israel and the United States – among others – hardselling their latest armament technologies to India in the hope of partnering with indigenous companies for setting up manufacturing bases that would cater to the military’s future requirements. (SHAILENDRA BHOJAK / PTI)

Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on board a Rafake fighter during the second day of Aero India 2017 show at Yelahanka Air base in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The skill development minister, who holds a commercial pilot licence, flew for around 35 minutes, and said he reached 8G. India and France signed an inter-government agreement for purchase of 36 Rafale fighters off-shelf on September 23 this year. (PTI)

Skycat Wingwalkers from the Scandinavian Airshow aerobatic team on the third day of the 11th biennial edition of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka Air base in Bengaluru on Thursday. During flight two Skycats posed on the wings of the aircraft in different formations while the pilot made aerobatic manoeuvres such as loops and barrel rolls. (SHAILENDRA BHOJAK / PTI)

The Yakovlevs, a UK-based aerobatic team flying Russian designed Yakovlev aircrafts, fly over an Indian Air Force helicopter on the third day of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. India and Russia are nearing a joint venture to make light helicopters in India, reviving a plan announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015. (AIJAZ RAHI / AP)

Visitors walk around scaled down models of aircraft at the Dassault on the third day of Aero India 2017. The five-day event has from Russia, Europe, Israel and the United States hardselling their latest armament technologies to India. (MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP)

Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots sit in a flight simulator at an aviation stall in the exhibition area during the Aero India show 2017, a biennial international aerospace and defence exhibition held at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bangalore on February 16, 2017. (MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP)

Indian Air Force's (IAF) aerobatic team ‘Sarang‘ performs at the 11th biennial edition of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka Air base in Bengaluru on Thursday. The air show will bear witness to the Defence Research and Development Organisation delivering the country’s first indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) to the IAF in initial operational clearance configuration, bringing it a step closer to induction. (SHAILENDRA BHOJAK / PTI)

Indigenously manufactured Dhruv helicopter performs on the second day of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, February 15, 2017.The air show comes a fortnight after India allocated Rs 2.74 lakh crore for defence spending through 2017-18, a marginal increase over last year’s budget of Rs 2.58 lakh crore. The spending includes Rs 86,488 crore for the military’s modernisation. (AIJAZ RAHI / AP)