Aero models, mid-air stunts mark Day 2

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 20

An array of events such as aero modeling, back flips, spiral mid-air stunts enthralled the audience at the Civil Aviation Club on Wednesday.

The aero stunts sent around cheer among the audience who also questioned the relevance of stunt biking with the heritage festival. The Heritage and Tourism Department, Punjab, is holding the heritage and crafts festivals in the city for the second time in a row. Major General JS Sandhu was the chief guest on the occasion. He encouraged the young students to join the Indian Army.

Meanwhile, audience witnessed as gushing winds affected the movement of aircrafts while fliers avoided bringing the aircrafts very close to the ground. Captain Malkiat Singh, Chief flying instructor of Aviation club, Patiala, flew a 4-seater Cessna VT PBC and performed stunts equivalent to those of models controlled from the ground.

Among the audience were school-going children from Classes 6-8 from Ranbirpura High School, Government School, Passiana and others. They gasped at the gliders and cheered at the bike stunts.

APS Virk, former CEO of Punjab State Civil Aviation Council said flying aircrafts of the kind was not an easy task as was perceived. “It takes years of practice and team-work to ensure proper working of the aero-models. A team needs to ensure proper control, management of the model and proper maneuvering to ensure timed take-offs and safe landings.”

Stunt-bikes later screeched on the road as the bikers performed ‘whilee’ and ‘stoppie’ stunts. A bicycle rider meanwhile performed hand-stands to entertain the onlookers.

Paramdeep, a Class 7 student of Ranbirpura High School said, “They presented the aero-models to encourage the students to join the Indian army. Why are they showing us bike stunts, which are dangerous?”

A school teacher said, “Children have impressionable minds. These stunts should not be performed in front of them.”

Poonamdeep Kaur, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) when as asked about relevance of the stunt biking during the heritage festival said, “It was just a presentation, a game, like the presentation of the aero-models.”

No parallel arrangements

Earlier in the day, chaos could be seen during the turban tying competition at the Sheesh Mahal. As rain started pouring, officials tried to shift the competition inside where a photography presentation was already going on. Those holding the presentation expressed disappointment over the whole issue as their photographs worth lakhs could be broken while the administration failed to ensure parallel arrangements.

Rain plays spoilsport on Day 2 

Overcast conditions and showers played a spoilsport on the second day of the Patiala Heritage Festival at Sheesh Mahal. Ticket counters did not see any hustle bustle. Most stalls remained covered with tarpaulins. A stall owner from Rajasthan said, “We had expected good footfall. We are expecting good business ahead.” Another stall owner said, “We usually have a bumper business on initial days. But this time, it didn’t start well. If showers continue, our business will be hit.”