The Hindu : Karnataka News : IAF pilots' aerobatics thrill Mysoreans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 18, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

IAF pilots' aerobatics thrill Mysoreans

By Our Staff Correspondent

Personnel of the Maratha Light Infantry performing a slithering operation during the Dasara Air Show in Mysore on Sunday.

MYSORE, OCT. 17. The Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots displayed the best of their aerobatics in front of a large gathering at the Bannimantap Parade Grounds here today during the Dasara air show.

Launching the air show, the Air Devils, New Delhi-based para jumpers of the IAF, drew a thunderous applause from the audience as they touched the ground. The 13-member squad including a woman, made a perfect landing.

Slithering operation

A demonstration of slithering operation by the soldiers attached to the Maratha Light Infantry from an MI-8 Helicopter was another attraction. Such an operation will be conducted to drop troops in inhospitable regions where landing of helicopters is not possible. MI-8 helicopters are deployed at the higher reaches of the Siachen glaciers and Karakkoram ranges or in remote jungles of the Northeast.

The arrival of the helicopter and its take off saw many in the audience running for cover as the dust encircled the area.

Among the aircraft that charmed the crowd was the Hindustan Piston Trainer (HPT)-32, which is popularly known as Deepak.

Formation flight

It is a basic trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The other was the Hindustan Jet Trainer (HJT)-16. The cynosure of the air show was the formation flight of bigger aircraft. The AN-32 and two Dorniers flew past the audience in a "Small Boy" formation. Leading another flight in "VIC Formation" was the deep penetration strike aircraft Jaguar, a bomber, accompanied by two MIG 21 aircraft.

`Victory Roll'

The IAF pilots later displayed their skills in the high-speed run and to top the day's event was the "Victory Roll" or the "Vertical Charlie" by a MIG 21 that marked the end of a short but an impressive air show.

Also on the show was the display of controlled line flying aero models by cadets of No. 4 Karnataka Air Sqn. NCC unit, Mysore.

This more than half-hour show was a relief to many disappointed Mysoreans who witnessed a scaled down air show last year.

Earlier, the weather threatened to spoil the show as the cloudy sky gave anxious moments to the coordinators. However, the sky opened up for the breathtaking performance by the Indian Air Force.

Bigger show

The Air Officer Commanding in Chief of the Indian Air Force Training Command, Air Marshal Subash Bhojwani, told presspersons that the IAF would organise a bigger air show during the next Dasara festivities. Appreciating the turnout, he said air shows created a lot of good will towards the armed forces and might inspire the youth to join them. Air Marshal Bhojwani presented a memento of the Training Command to the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah.

The former Minister, D.T. Jayakumar, the Deputy Commissioner, Kumar G. Naik, the Mysore City Corporation Commissioner, A.B. Ibrahim, and the Police Commissioner, Bipin Gopalkrishna, were present.

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