Suryakiran, Sarang teams dazzles Kochiites

Kochi, Apr 15 (UNI) Hundreds of Vishu revellers thronged the Marine Drive here to witness the riveting display of precision flying by Suryakiran Formation Aerobatic Team (SKAT) and Sarang Helicopter Aerobatic team.

The SKAT, led by Wing Commander Sandeep Bansal, enthralled the public with nine aircraft formation flying as the fleet took to high speed ascend and descend at speeds ranging from 250 to 600 km per hour.

Dipslaying its prowess for synchronised manoeuvres, the 'diamond' formation was a treat for the audience as the aircraft moved in perfect coordination before moving in different directions.

The shift from one manoeuvre to another was smooth as the team crafted the 'delta' and 'shock wave' before unravelling different types on 'loops' with great dexterity.

The SKAT, flying with the indigenous basic jet trainer, Kiran MK II, also was deft in creating the 'Cupid's Arrow' and 'Heart Sign' and kept the spectators in tenterhooks with their 'inverted run.' The Sarang team, performing here for the first time, flew four HAL-ALH Dhruv helicopters to the rapt attention of the public.

Sarang, meaning peacock in Sanskrit, used bright colour scheme for its helicopters and the sequence was designed to project one manoeuvre, where each one blended with the next formation for the entire exercise to appear as a single fluid motion.

The team displayed the 'criss-cross' movements and the 'reverse flying' techniques which are difficult to perform in a unstable aerodynamic platform like copters.

UNI