Tuesday, February 8 2005 16:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, flew the British Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) at the dress-rehearsal of Aero India air show at the Yelahanka air base today (Feb 8, 2005).

Britain is having a flying display of the trainers, which India has acquired, at the five-day show beginning tomorrow (Feb 9, 2005).

"It is 20 years and the aircraft has the same qualities as we thought," Tyagi told reporters soon after the 20-minute sortie on the AJT, which he flew from the front seat over the Yelahanka airbase.

He said the AJT will help in improving the training of pilots, but the reason to buy 66 Hawks from BAe Systems was not due to the frequent crashes of the aging Indian aircraft.

"All these years we have been flying without the Hawks. This will definitely improve the training of the pilots," Tyagi said.

India inked a $ 1.45 billion deal last March after negotiations for 18 years.

BAe Systems would produce 22 Hawks, with the first Hawk to be inducted by March 2007 while India's public sector aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd will build 44 at its Bangalore unit.