Apart from the usual business expected at the show, one positive offshoot is a firm commitment from the defence minister for establishing an Air and Space Museum--a suggestion mooted by Civil Aviation Minister. And, one hopes to see the museum becoming the main attraction at least during the next show in this aeronautical capital of India - Bangalore.

Compared with Aero India 96, which resulted in situation awareness, Aero India 98 may have moved into several business connections. While results are still coming in, it is gathered that the Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) high-technology multi-role Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) now under production has registered wide-spread interest from severalThird World countries and Saudi Arabia. This needs to be capitalised.

The UAV-Nishant, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the emerging basic jet Trainer of HAL, now in the offing have attracted attention of many foreign delegates. An understanding between the Airbus Aerosptialise and the HAL has reached for design project study of the freighter version of Airbus A-320 to be developed by HAL engineers. HAL also formalised a US $ 4.5 million for Boeing B-777 Landing Gear Uplock box.

Pawan Hans Helicopters bagged a contract for Helicopter services and maintenance for the Indian Antarctica expedition against International bidding. NAL bagged the order for 5 Hansa-3 aircraft from Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Deccan Aviation Limited, Bangalore bagged a US $ 2 million contract for providing helicopters and helicopter support services from Cairn Energy of UK for their offshore drilling project in Andhra Pradesh.

The show appears to have gained substantial mass in size and momentum in business development,thus consolidating itself as an international market place.

However, the weather on all the five days interrupted the fantastic flying displays and marred their continuous sequence. The organisers and meteorologists could scientifically study the timing and properly schedule the show in the year 2000. One noteworthy thing about this show is that around 100 foreign companies including the giants like Airbus, Dassault, Boeing, Rolls Royce and a host of high technology avionics and accessory industries participated, signifying the increasing recognition of Aero India 98 as an international market place. Aero India 96 saw only 17 Companies. There were 16 Indian participants in the Aero India 98.

A large number of Indian small and medium engineering enterprises promoted by SIATI-an organisation promoting interaction between aero-industries to aid growth of Indian aircraft industry also participated. The Indian R&D represented by DRDO, NAL, HAL, BEL among many others displayed their R&D capabilities in a moretransparent manner to showcase their strength and creative abilities. This assumes importance after Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, revealed that the missiles produced by India were for sale.

Government delegations at ministerial level from 14 countries - Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Greece, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Laos, Tanzania visited the show and evinced a keen interest in many aviation products.

The Third World countries seems to have been particularly impressed with the India's R&D and industry capabilities and the products. The show attracted state-of-the-art aircraft such as SU-30, SU-33, MiG-AT, Mirage-2000, Falcon 2000, ATR-42, Hawk-200, MiG-21 UM, AN-38-100, IL-144 and a few UAVs from abroad.