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Aero India is India’s largest aerospace exhibition. The semiannual event, organized by India’s Ministry of Defence, is now in its 10th year. We are proud to announce that Hartzell was on location at Aero India for the first time ever. Here are five things that were not to be missed at this massive aviation showcase.

Hartzell is the world’s leading supplier of airplane propeller technology, so our products have been a staple of the exhibition and airshow since its inception. This year, however, our team of aviation experts was on the show floor to talk shop and discuss hi-tech props with aviators from around the world.

Aero India is a major business venture for the Indian government, which is one of the world’s largest importers of defense technology. Prime Minister Modi’s address focused on working with foreign and domestic firms to establish an aviation manufacturing industry within India that can alter the country’s dependence on foreign aviation hardware. Hartzell has been a leader in aviation manufacturing within the U.S. for nearly 100 years and has witnessed the growth of a domestic aerospace industry first hand. It will be exciting to see what the future holds for Modi’s “Make in India” initiative.

U.S. aerobatic fans are regularly exposed to daring exploits performed in every kind of aircraft imaginable, from the Blue Angels to Sean D. Tucker’s custom Oracle biplane to the home-built RV-8s of Team AeroDynamix. It’s much rarer, however, to see helicopters performing aerobatic stunts. The Sarang team, which gets its name from the common term for their ALH-DHruv helicopters, are considered one of the best helicopter display teams anywhere. The Sarang team performed daily at Aero India.

One of our collaborators in making the Red Bull Air Races a world-class event, Breitling is a brand synonymous with precision aviation. The cockpit chronographs they developed in the 1930s and 40s became the gold standard in aviation timekeeping. Today, Breitling keeps that historical tradition alive by supporting adventurous aviators around the world. Their wingwalking team is famous for making death-defying feats look easy. Like the Sarang team, they performed daily at Aero India.

Over 600 companies from across the globe participated in Aero India 2015. They showcased the best in aviation technology, discussed innovative manufacturing opportunities and (potentially) planted the first seeds of India’s domestic aviation industry. If the event continues to build momentum, this year’s Aero India could be a historic moment for aviation in India.