Karnataka - Belgaum   

Suryakiran, Akashganga make brilliant formations

Vijaykumar Patil

Spectacular show for the diamond jubilee of Military School, Belgaum

WITH THE SKY AS THE CANVAS: Akashganga team forming the National Flag at a show in Belgaum on Friday.

Belgaum: An azure sky and superb weather greeted the legendary Suryakiran Formation Aerobatic Team (SKAT) and skydiving team of Akashganga Jumpers (AJ) of the IAF Indian Air Force and made it a fantastic Friday for thousands of spectators in Belgaum.

The two teams were in the city for the diamond jubilee of the Military School, Belgaum (MSB).

Flying the indigenously made Kiran MK II, the nine-member SKAT (based at IAF Station, Bidar) including Sqn. Ldr. S. Sadashivpeth of Belgaum made spectacular formations in the sky giving a thrilling experience to the spectators.

The sky over the Military Ganapathi Temple on Hindalga Road in the city turned into a playground for the IAF pilots. With everybody holding his breath, awaiting the red and white painted jet trainer SKs to take off for the great show that it was, the nine aircraft roared into the sky and formed a "diamond" to a cheering crowd.

The SKs disappeared only to return with stunning formations of "Delta", "Columbia", "Sukhoi", "Apollo", "Card", "Synchro cross", "Wedge", "Tango", "India peel off", "Five-aircraft vixen break" and "Nine aircraft vixen break", all taking place at speeds between 200 to 600 kmph and flying within a altitude band of 30 metres to 1,500 metres.

Flying with such split second precision demands peak performance from the man and the machine (aircraft), each and every time, leaving no room for error or doubt.

Heart-stopping feat

Although every formation excited the spectators, the synchro pair's heart-stopping head-on crosses at a speed of 1,000 kmph. unfailingly stole the show.

"Aerobatics is a bond between man and machine.

The glue that holds them together is discipline and the passion for excellence.

This challenging task for aerobatic pilots is not an act of daredevilry but a display of dedication to their profession and aircraft. The display of precision flying and finesse of manoeuvres is a result of intensive training, critical examination of each practice sortie and the tireless endeavour to achieve the best.

Above all, the quality so essential in the field of military aviation, perfect teamwork, is the essence of a good flying display," feel members of the Suryakiran team.

The nine-member team is said to be the youngest in the world, whose commanding officer is Wg. Cdr. Sandeep Bansal, a fully operational Mirage pilot and an A2 flying instructor.

The other members of the team are Wg. Cdr. K. Ramesh, who looks after all operational aspects of the team, MiG 29 pilots Wg. Cdr. Parajual Singh, Sqn. Ldr. J. Cruz (Syncro leader and Syncro 2), Mig 23 BN pilots Sqn. Ldr. Rahul Lilani and Sqn. Ldr. Kunal Shah, Sqn. Ldrs. Sharad Pasricha and Mihit Shishodia.

Skydiving

The aerobatics was followed by yet another spectacular demonstration of skydiving by the eight-member team of "Akashganga" headed by none other than MSB Georgian (an alumnus of MSB is called as Georgian) Sqn. Ldr. Kamal Singh Oberh.

The eight-member team of jumpers dived from an altitude of about 6,000 ft., deploying the parachutes only after a free fall of 1,000 ft. to 2,000 ft.

Risky manoeuvre

While Sqn. Ldr. Oberh was holding the school flag, which could be dangerous too, and three co-jumpers made perfect landing, others got paired into two and three to form an Indian tricolour and splitting just before the landing.

And the final salute came from the IAF's transport aircraft AN 32, which flew to a low altitude - greeting the viewers.

Among the prominent persons who witnessed these shows were Maj. Gen. J.S. Ghumman, senior officials of Indian Army, IAF, MSB Principal Lt. Col. Sudhanshu Arya and former Chief Secretary and Georgian B.S. Patil.

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