Eurofighters escort President in rare honour

[Galaxy]

Eurofighters escort Indian President in rare honour

VIENNA: In a rare honour, two Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets escorted the Air India One aircraft carrying President Pratibha Patil as it entered the Austrian airspace.

Within seconds of entering the Austrian airspace from Switzerland on Tuesday, two gleaming jets appeared suddenly on the left side of the President's plane.

Those inside the presidential aircraft started shooting the jets in frenzy. But, only with their mobile phones and cameras.

The Eurofighters are one of the shortlisted contenders in the Indian MRCA tender to purchase 126 "Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft".

After about two minutes, one of the jets suddenly pulled back and flew to the other side of the aircraft. Everyone was just interested in getting the perfect shot of the plane which also opened its co-passenger shield as a mark of respect. The best view was just before landing as all three aircraft lost altitude and the jets were at an arm's length.

Eurofighters escort President in rare honour - The Times of India

 

[Yusuf]

Wow, what an honor for the Austrians and it's eurofoghters. Wonder if they would have done the same if they were not in contension for the MRCA.

 

[ganesh177]

Thats cheap marketting.

Rather the salesmen shud put an incredible offer in terms of tot, pricing and all that mod will find it difficult to refuse.

 

[Illusive]

Dont understand the criticism here, its good gesture shown, maybe a protocol. And if indeed it was a marketing stunt, whats wrong with it, shows how much important this deal is to them.

 

[ganesh177]

It surely is not a protocol, its not mandatory to escort the prez of any nation by such expensive birds.

 

[The Messiah]

It surely is not a protocol, its not mandatory to escort the prez of any nation by such expensive birds.

It is when leader is from a strong country.

 

[Armand2REP]

Dont understand the criticism here, its good gesture shown, maybe a protocol. And if indeed it was a marketing stunt, whats wrong with it, shows how much important this deal is to them.

How important is this deal to Austria? They do not make Eurofighter. The consortium probably bribed them with some carrot.

 

[Galaxy]

How important is this deal to Austria? They do not make Eurofighter. The consortium probably bribed them with some carrot.

We will Buy 200 Typhoon soon. i hope, most likely

 

[Armand2REP]

Sounds like a personal problem...

 

[Yusuf]

Che, like I said in my earlier post, this would not have happened if the EF was not on the shortlist.

 

[The Messiah]

Che, like I said in my earlier post, this would not have happened if the EF was not on the shortlist.

Maybe not EF but then some other aircraft would be there in its place.

There have been numerous instances where Indian president has been escorted by fighter jets.

 

[Zebra]

Eurofighters Escort President's Air India One .

Friday, October 07, 2011
By : Defence News Admin


In a rare honour, two Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets escorted the Air India One aircraft carrying President Pratibha Patil as it entered the Austrian airspace.
In a rare honour, two Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets escorted the Air India One aircraft carrying President Pratibha Patil as it entered the Austrian airspace.

Within seconds of entering the Austrian airspace from Switzerland yesterday, two mean looking and gleaming jets appeared suddenly on the left side of the President's plane.

Had the people on board including journalists not known before about the fighters escorting the plane, many would have skipped a heartbeat to see the combat jets right next to them.

Within seconds, those inside the Presidential aircraft started shooting the jets in frenzy. But, only with their mobile phones and cameras.

The jets are one of the latest combat aircraft that was also used in the Libyan war to bomb Muammar Gaddafi's strongholds.

The Eurofighters are one of the shortlisted contenders in the Indian MRCA tender to purchase 126 "Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft". The other competitor remaining in the race is the French Rafale fighters.

After about two minutes, one of the jets suddenly pulled back and flew to the other side of the aircraft.
From the flight attendants to the security on board and journalists, everyone was just interested in getting the perfect shot of the plane which in between also opened its co-passenger shield as a mark of respect.

But the best view was just before the landing as all three aircraft lost altitude and the jets were just at an arm's length. One could see the fighter pilot sitting inside the cockpit.

If that was not enough, President received a 21 gun salute at the Vienna airport. It was indeed a sight to see the guns firing away as Patil shook hands with Austrian delegation that had come to welcome her.

Patil soon disappeared as the long siren blazing carcade drove away to the one of the oldest hotel in the city, Hotel Imperial, where the President is staying. Heavy police presence was seen around the hotel.

Back in Switzerland too, President had received heavy security cover. There was even an anti-riots vehicle parked outside the President's hotel in Geneva. The vehicle almost looked like a tank.

The heavy presence of policemen outside the hotel was all together a different experience for the locals as police can hardly be seen on the roads on a normal day.

President was being provided security by the Swiss special police. She even got an aerial cover whenever she moved out of the hotel.

Patil always had stern looking Swiss commandos carrying bags guarding her all the time. Inside the bag, the commandos held on to their assault rifles, which looked like an MP5 gun.
Even the hotel that she stayed in Swiss capital Bern was also heavily secured. It was just walking distance from the Swiss parliament and the National Bank.

Defence News - Eurofighters Escort President's Air India One

 

[Tshering22]

Austrians just wasted some precious jet fuel on escorting Dynasty's domestic helper.

Back in Switzerland too, President had received heavy security cover. There was even an anti-riots vehicle parked outside the President's hotel in Geneva. The vehicle almost looked like a tank.

Any guesses from the highlighted part as to why the woman visited Switzerland? Knowing Swiss politics, they're not militarily inclined, have a reservist force, have a mutual defense pact with France, Germany and Italy and are secured to the boot by EU's defense policies.

Which means PP was there only for one reason..... I guess I don't need to complete that sentence

 

[Yusuf]

Tshering needs to be put in 10 Janpath for a day. I wonder what he'd do.