You don't have to be ultra rich to own an aircraft these days

BANGALORE: There is more to the Bangalore airshow than the big deals and the large planes. A number of companies have come with single-engine aircraft with limited capabilities, but an irresistible price tag. ���Your own aircraft for just Rs 25 lakh,��� reads the intriguing sign in front of a two-seater plane.

The petite, piston-engined aircraft that comes with 2-engine options of 80 hp and 100 hp requires 10-12 litres of fuel for an hour of flight and can fly 650 kms with a full tank. The aircraft, designated C42, is being marketed by Ikarus, a German company owned by Hans-Martin Schempp, who test-piloted this aircraft almost 25 years ago.

Ikarus is not the only one with an entry level offering at the show. Aerostar, a Rumania-based company, is also in the market at approximately the same level. Aerostar is primarily a defence contractor ��� it does upgrades on MiG-21 aircraft and manufactures Yak-52, a Russia-designed 2-seat trainer aircraft.

The company is trying to sell two aircraft, a civil version of Yak-52 and ���Festival���, an ultralight aircraft with a closed cockpit. The price of the ultralight, which is also available as a ���do-it-yourself��� kit, is in the $35-40,000 range. This is roughly the same price as C42, which also falls in ultralight category. Like C42, Festival comes with an 80- and a 100-hp engine. The vital stats are also very similar for the two types.

Going beyond the entry level, you have more choice. Some new companies have also stepped in here. Diamond Aircraft, a US-based company, is in the market with three aircraft, a single engine, a twin engine and a powered glider.

A company official wouldn���t give the exact price, but said that the glider costs less than a crore. It���s not strictly a glider, as it can run on its engine. A company official said they have seen huge interest in their aircraft.

So far, they have sold 10 aircraft to a flying school. The unique feature of these aircraft is they can run on diesel, which brings down running costs sharply. Most other small planes operate on Avgas or ATF, a pure form of kerosene.