Article Posted on : - Feb 10, 2011

The F-16 fighter.

BANGALORE (BNS): US Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, who experienced flying on board an F-16 Super Viper fighter aircraft during the ongoing Aero India 2011 event, described it as “a dream come true”.

“It was magic,” quipped the official after flying on the combat jet.

With a thundering sound, the F-16 roared to the sky and flew for nearly an hour.

A visibly relieved Roemer quipped: “All is well,” after the warplane made its landing. The fighter flew on the opening day of the international aero show in Bangalore.

Leading the second largest contingent of defence and aerospace companies after India, the US is showcasing its superior technological advancements in the aero show.

A large number of aircraft, including fighter planes, transport aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems are on display by leading US defence majors including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

Lockheed is offering its F-16 fighters to India for the big-ticket Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal. Indian Air Force is set to acquire 126 such fighters.

Other fighters which made spectacular flight displays with brilliant maneouvers during the aero show were Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Swedish Saab’s Gripen, French Dassault’s Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.

US Assistant Secretary for State for Political-Military Affairs, Andrew Shapiro also flew on the F/A-18 Super Hornet.