Sarangs, Tejas all set for sky party in Bahrain

Bengaluru, Dec 20: The Sarang Helicopter Display Team flying the Dhruvs and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas are likely to be the show-stoppers at the 4th Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS) starting at Sakhir Air base tomorrow.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Wednesday that the Sarangs decided to participate at the show following an invitation from the Royal Bahrain Air Force.

"Responding to this invitation, the IAF has sent the Sarang Air Display team led by Group Captain A S Abhayankar to display the legendary skills of the helicopter display team," a spokesperson said.

The Sarang Team was formed in 2002 and flies indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) helicopters. The ALHs are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bengaluru.

"The Sarang's first public display internationally was in Singapore in 2004 and the team was judged as being amongst the top 10 display teams in 2005 at the Al Ain Aerobatic Show at UAE," says the spokesperson.

HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju said that two Tejas Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft will enthrall the visitors.

"The Tejas will perform a series of aerobatic maneuvers such as 8-g pull, vertical loop, slow fly past and barrel roll" Raju said on Wednesday.

He said it is important that indigenous aircraft fly outside India in international air-shows.

"HAL is proud to be associated with design, development and production of Tejas. We have set-up a state-of-the-art, environmentally-controlled dedicated Division for the production of LCAs," Raju said.

HAL has set up a stall at the BIAS to explain the features of ALH (Rudra) and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).

OneIndia News