IAF's Suryakiran team display aerobatic skills

Jalandhar, Sept 26: Daredevil aerobatic skills showcased by Indian Air Force's high profile Suryakiran Formation Aerobatic team(SKAT) kept the spectators mesmerised throughout the Air Show at the Adampur IAF Air Port here today.

The nine Kiran MK-II aircraft SKAT team under the leadership of Wing Commander Sandeep Bansal displayed spectacular skills in various aerobatic formations, including turns, wingovers, barrel rolls in the first half of the air show while in the second half the formation team got split in two groups to exhibit capability of carrying out variety of manoeuvres including splits, level and rolling crosses, inverted runs and heart loop formation.

During the display the aircraft formation flew between speed of 200 Km per hour to 600 Km per hour within a height band of 30 Mt to 1,500 Mts.

He said that the team which was formed in May 1996 for displaying all facets of IAF's professionalism at the highest level has over the year emerged as the ''Ambassadors of the Indian air Force''.

He said that the team did perform to build confidence of Indian brethren in the capabilities of IAF and to motivate youths to join IAF.

The Kiran MK-II aircraft is an indigenous basic jet trainer used by IAF to train its fighter pilots in basic fighting manoeuvres and weapon delivery and his team is the only 9 AC formation aerobatic team of the world which did fly such aircrafts, Mr Bansal said.

The other teams in the world did fly either frontline fighter aircrafts or advanced jet trainers, he added.

Prior to Suryakiran's display, Sarang team of Advance Light Helicopters also displayed aerobatic capabilities.

An exhibition of aircrafts, radars, surface to surface missiles and other aerial weapon systems was also organised on the side lines of the air show.

The show was a part of the Indian Air Force(IAF) Golden Jubilee celebrations. About 40 shows are to be held during the celebrations.

While the first air show of this series by the team was held in Bangalore, the last show was held in Jammu recently, Wing Commander Bansal said.

A large number of people from Jalandhar and nearby Hoshiarpur, including students of various schools and colleges witnessed the air show.

UNI