India in 52 frames - 22

Ballet in the sky

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The legendary Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team of the Indian Air Force painting the tricolours in the skies above Bangalore.

Image Details

Camera : Canon EOS 50D

Aperture : f/9.0

Focal Length : 200mm

Shutter Speed : 1/640 sec

ISO Speed : 200

India in 52 frames - 19

New Wings -

For years Indians flew out of barns, bunkers and tin sheds masquerading as airports. Then with the opening of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, we went from being the worst to the best in one single leap.  Today this airport ranks amongst the best in the world and has been joined by equally modern and efficient airports at Delhi, Bombay and Bangalore. Having been associated closely with the development of the new airports at Delhi and Hyderabad, I can proudly claim a small part in contributing to the nation.

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Image Details

Camera : Canon EOS 350D Digital

Aperture : f/3.5

Shutter Speed : 1/10 sec

Focal Length : 22mm

ISO Speed : 400

Images - Aero India 2011

Am currently covering the Aero India 2011 Air Show on an assignment. Some pictures from the first two days of action

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India's homegrown Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' takes off for a display flight. The aircraft has had a tumultuous development history and is yet to be fully inducted in the Indian Air Force, even after missing multiple deadlines.

 

 

The Boeing F/A 18 Super Hornet has enthralled the audience with its superb agility at Aero India. The aircraft is among the candidates vying for the lucrative MMRCA deal currently under consideration by the Indian Air Force.

 

 

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off with afterburners lit. The plane is another contender for the MMRCA contract.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Anglo-German-Italian, Eurofighter Typhoon is tipped by many as the leading horse in the MMRCA race.

 

Six aircraft, the American F/A-18 & the F-16 along with the Typhoon, the Swedish Saab Gripen, the French Dassault Rafale and the Russian MiG-35 are vying for the MMRCA contract. In this image, all but the Mig-35 line up to show off their capabilities at Aero India 2011.

 

However, the big daddy at the show is undoubtedly the Sukhoi Su-30 MkI. Jointly developed by Russia and India, few aircraft if any can match the awesome prowess of this monster.

 

 

A prototype of the Light Combat Helicopter developed by India, shows off its wares.

 

A staple at any Indian Air Show, the Air Force's Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team. This however, was their last performace with the Kiran aircraft as the team is being temporarily disbanded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Indian Air Force also fields one of the very few helicopter aerobatics teams in the world - the delectable Sarangs

 

A real crowed puller - The Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team. One of the pilots in the team is actually a 62 year old lady!

The Flying Walrus

In May 2007, I was privileged enough to witness first-hand & close-up, the first ever arrival of the Airbus A380 in India. While this huge aircraft is definitely a technological tour de force, it is also an extremely ugly one. I was hard pressed to find an angle which could make this flying walrus look beautiful, when finally a combination of storm clouds and a setting sun came to my rescue. Here's what I got..


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Image Details:

Camera: Canon EOS 350D Digital
Lens: Canon EF-S 18 - 55 mm II
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
Focal Length: 40 mm
ISO Speed: ISO 400
Exposure: Manual

Sleek and Sexy

Of all the aircraft the visit Delhi Airport, this is by far the sexiest. This one is called Scarlet Lady, registered G-VRED to Virgin Atlantic Airways. This A340-600 is the longest aircraft in the world (Yes !! longer than the A380 and the B747) and is operating as VS301 o London.

Image Details:

Camera: Canon EOS 350D Digital
Lens: Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Aperture: f/9
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec
Focal Length: 149 mm
ISO Speed: ISO 100
Exposure: -0.3 ev

Touchdown

This image highlights one of the privileges of my job. I see this scene countless times in a day, but somehow the thrill of a 100 ton lump of metal hitting the ground at 200 kmph, the smoke from the tyres and the roar of the thrust reversers never fails the pump up the adrenaline.

Here Boeing a Spicejet Boeing 737-800 registered VT-SPH makes a perfect touchdown. The pilot seems to be pretty eager to slow as his thrust reversers are open, even before nose gear is in contact with the tarmac.


Image Details:
Camera: Canon EOS 350D Digital
Lens: Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec
Focal Length: 190mm
ISO Speed: ISO 100