Students enjoy an aeromodel exhibition at Sonari Airport in Jamshedpur on Wednesday. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, July 29: To celebrate the birth of a visionary and pioneer aviator, nothing short of an air show would do.

Eager schoolchildren and enthusiastic visitors swamped the Sonari airstrip here today to be part of an aircraft exhibition organised to mark Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata’s 105th birth anniversary.

An aeromodel show organised by the Jamshedpur Aviation Club was the star attraction of the function. Categorised into gliders and engine planes, the remote-controlled models went up to 40ft in air. This year, over 15 gliders and engine aircraft were on display.

“We have toiled for a long year to make these aeromodels work. Thermocol and wood have been used to make them light and easy to fly. We have also kept the environment in mind and mixed methanol and castor oil for fuel. The end result is worth the toil. It is exciting to see these things fly. They look so real,” said Soham Bhattacharjee, a Class XI student of Loyola School, part of the team that designs aeromodels.

Over 500 students attended the exhibition to see some of the best remote-controlled aeromodels up close.

The oldest aircraft at the show was a yellow Pushpak MK1 made in 1965. This is a unique aircraft because of its single engine, wooden propeller and fabric covering. The twin carrier is mainly used for training purposes.

A remote-controlled miniature chopper takes off at Sonari. Picture by Srinivas

Another aircraft on display was the Cessna 152 — a single engine 1984 model made in the US. It can carry up to 900kg and fly for four hours at a stretch.

“We have never seen planes from this close. We loved the air show. I wish I could have had one of these. They were so real. I would like to come here every year,” said Ishita Sarkar, a Class V student of JH Tarapore School.

Students from Bal Vihar, Sonari, a special school for the deaf and mute, also enjoyed the breathtaking spectacle.

Partha Sengupta, vice-president (corporate services) of Tata Steel, attended the programme as its chief guest.

Tata Steel also lined up several events to celebrate the special day.

An inter-school cross-country race was organised at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. Over 1,400 students from 52 schools participated in the event. An inter-centre football tournament, organised by Tata Steel urban services, was inaugurated at Gopal Maidan, Bistupur. The rural services department under the corporate sustainability services, Tata Steel, organised a health camp in Mango, kitchen gardening for self-help group members and sapling plantation in villages of Seriakela-Kharsawan.

The Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation (TSFIF) organised a free check-up and awareness camp at the maternal and child health clinic in Kadma and Sonari, while the Parents’ Association for Mentally Handicapped celebrated the day with colours.

A sit-and-draw competition for special children was organised.