From a Drone Olympics to a Students’ Pavilion, expect several firsts

The 2019 edition of the Aero India, which is to be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka between February 20 and 24, will see many firsts. From Drone Olympics to Startup Challenges, Women’s Day events to a Student Pavilion, there will be several new elements at Aero India. 

With drones being the next big thing in the aviation sector and widely believed to a game-changer, the organisers decided to hold a Drone Olympics. Various drone competitions would be held, a high being a surveillance competition. The competition would be held in two classes: Fixed VTOL and Hybrid Designs, which will be further classified in 4 Kilograms and 4-7 Kilograms categories. There will also be a weight-drop challenge and UAV formation flying challenge. The prize money for the three competition categories ranges from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 50,000. 

A Startup Showcase Event will also be held on February 21, the second day of the five-day air show. 

The fourth day of the air show will be dubbed Women’s Day and US astronaut of Indian origin Sunita Williams is also expected to participate in the airshow. 

Another first is the Student Pavilion, which will showcase the projects of students on aerospace related activities. The Students Pavilion will be hosted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Civil Aviation and students from all over India will be invited to present products and concepts on the Application of Aerospace Technologies for the Betterment of the Billion lives (AABB).