Bengaluru-Based Student Pilot Wins A Trip To The Home of Gripen
During Aero India 2019 Saab brought a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those with a dream to get close to the world’s most modern fighter jet. The Gripen Warrior contest offered the chance to win a trip to the home of Gripen in Sweden, and now a winner has been declared.
On Saturday 23 February five Gripen Warrior finalists took their seat to fly the Gripen fighter mission simulator at Aero India 2019, in Bengaluru. Abhay Ashvin (24) a student pilot at the Government Flying Training School, Bengaluru emerged victorious and won a trip to Linkoping, Sweden. Abhay’s success was the culmination of a month-long contest hosted live on www.gripenwarriors.com and organised by Saab for all Indian combat aircraft enthusiasts.
The Gripen Warrior challenge involved an online test of aviation knowledge and flight simulation of the Gripen fighter. The contest ran from 15 January to 15 February drawing nearly 2000 participants across 27 states. The final round of the challenge was judged by Saab chief test pilot Hans Einerth and Martin Hambraeus, a former Swedish Air Force pilot.
The Gripen Warrior contest was divided across amateur and professional levels, teasing the brains of aircraft buffs to win a host of Gripen memorabilia. Online gaming fans could enter the Ace Level challenge and put their best flying efforts to the test in the Gripen E simulator at Aero India 2019, competing to win a trip to Sweden.
“Aero India is a celebration of the love of flying, of fighter aircraft and the world’s best aircraft technologies. Saab is delighted to have India’s enthusiasts onboard and to open up the world of Gripen through this unique contest. We hope that the closer the people of India can get to the complex technologies that will guard their skies, the greater will be their appreciation of Sweden’s aerospace expertise. We’re excited to engage with the defence enthusiasts of India and give one of them the chance to live a life-long dream;getting up close to the world’s best fighter aircraft,” says Ola Rignell, Chairman and Managing Director of Saab India Technology Pvt Ltd (SITPL).
“Saab brings a unique opportunity to learn about the world of defence through our Gripen Warrior contest. The competition is a great way for India to see and understand the complex technologies that make defence and security solutions by Saab so uncompromising and effective,” adds Mats Palmberg, Vice President, Industrial Partnerships, Saab.
Along with the grand prize of a visit to Saab, the Gripen Warrior contest had a host of other prizes for those who participated including Gripen caps, pens, speakers, key rings and multi-tool kits, among others.
For further information, please contact:
Richa Gupta
Communications, Saab India
+91 99101 47217
richa.gupta@saabgroup.com
Saab Press Centre,
+46 (0)734 180 018
presscentre@saabgroup.com
www.saabgroup.com
www.saabgroup.com/YouTube
Follow us on twitter: @saab
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.