BANGALORE, DECEMBER 19: The inaugural day of Aero Fete '99 had an unusual attraction. One who dropped from the sky.For Shaurya Chakra (Gallantry) awardee Wg Cmdr Palat, the sky dive on Saturday from a powered hang glider (PHG) – at the Dr V M Ghatage Convention Centre, Marathalli was no difficult task. He was sky diving from a microlight aircraft for the second time.This time, Palat made a precise landing on the field next to the Convention Centre and presented Chief Guest Union Minister for Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Ananth Kumar with a bouquet.He also complimented his pilot Vasan for ``it is a difficult task to control an aircraft after the jump and it requires great skill''.On an earlier occasion, i.e. on October 18 (again in Bangalore), he and Capt K A Vasan – the PHG pilot on both occasions – had created a national record for sky diving from microlight aircraft. Then, he had jumped at 8,000 ft AMSL.On Saturday, Palat (50) also declared his millennium wish to jump from the skyjust before the dawn of the new millennium and land a few minutes after 0000 hrs.Now he wants sponsors to achieve his dream. Palat has a unique record of jumping from 18 types of aircraft and is the most experienced sky driver in the country. He has jumped from the sky 169 times at night and over 1600 occasions in his career. The sky diving was only for the inaugural function. For the other days, i.e, till December 21, the Fete has aeromodelling, helicopter joy rides and numerous stalls to enthrall spectators.The Aeromodelling demonstration had spectators squinting up at the scorching sun to see miniature models of four different types of aircraft being flown by remote control.
