Bangalore, Nov 20: Union Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy will pilot an Hpt-32 aircraft from here to Tiruchirappali today to kick off the `Air Race India 2003`, marking the first centennial of historic flight by the Wright Brothers. Rudy, a commercial pilot license holder, will fly at a speed of 95 nautical miles at an altitude of 7,500 feet and follow the Cauvery river from Mettur to touch Tiruchirappali.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, will witness the event, to be inaugurated by Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi.

Nearly 19 aircraft from Bangalore will participate in the southern leg of the air race, that has stops at Arakkonam and Bidar, before culminating at Nagpur on November 22, air race 2003 organising committee chairman Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Ajit Lamba told reporters here. Over 50 aircraft, including three from the defence services, the civilian sector and NCC would fly in the event, being organised by the Aeronautical Society of India simultaneously from north, east, west and southern regions.

Lamba said the Indian Air Force had made arrangements to use its bases and would offer tracking and emergency services for the event.

Bureau Report