Bengaluru: Outside the Saab stands in Hall C at Aero India 17, the crowd waits in a serpentine queue to see the Gripen. Notwithstanding the heat, people wait patiently to take a look inside the cockpit of one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world.
Saab Aerospace’s Gripen has evoked an overwhelming response from the crowd. The Swedish Aerospace major is displaying the Gripen and is allowing common folk to take a look at its highly advanced cockpit. On hand are Swedish pilots, guiding and explaining the controls of the 4++ generation fighter to international visitors and the Indian public.
Vinit, a 10-year-old, waited patiently in the line for over 40 minutes to see the insides of the Gripen. “How modern,” he exclaimed as he clambered out of the cockpit helped by the pilots. “It is so advanced inside.”
His father Mukesh too exclaimed, “I never knew fighter jets were so modern. Everything looks like LCD inside. The aircraft looks like it is out of this world. I am very happy with the wait to see Gripen’s cockpit. It was worth the effort,” he said.
Sudesh Malgaonkar was seen excitedly gazing at the cockpit of the Gripen. The software engineer exclaimed, “The plane is state-of-the-art. I am so happy to see the cockpit of an advanced fighter for the first time in my life.”
Saab officials said the response to the aircraft was overwhelming. “We at Saab are completely overwhelmed by the response to the Gripen fighter display. Swedish pilots are helping the public understand the aircraft,” said Mr Vineet Khunger, marketing director communications, Saab India Technologies Pvt Limited.
Asked whether Saab arrived in force for this year’s Aero India with an eye on the single engine aircraft Request For Information (RFI) issued by the Indian government, Mr Khunger said, “Saab has been regularly attending Aero India over the years. We want to be back for the next edition too, hopefully with a firm contract in hand!”
