The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Suryakiran team arrives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 05, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Suryakiran team arrives

Staff Reporter

GRAND SPECTACLE: A file picture of the aerobatics display by Suryakiran team flying Kiran Mk-II aircraft. — Photo: Kamal Narang

Bangalore: The Indian Air Force's star Suryakiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) has arrived from Bidar to participate in Aero India 2007.

So, if you are there anywhere near the skies over Yelahanka, watch out for the trademark orange and white aircraft that are said to have begun their practice runs.

The Suryakirans will be the only aerobatics team from the IAF this time because the participation of the Sarang helicopter team is still unclear after the tragic accident earlier this week.

The other aircraft of the IAF on static and aerial display have been drawn from operational squadrons.

The team is officially designated 52 Squadron, led by Wing Commander Sandeep Bansal, and has come down with nine of the aircraft painted in the trademark red and white Kiran MK-IIs. Along with the planes and pilots the team has its own exclusive maintenance crew. The manoeuvre that the team is most famous for is the heart in the sky. Two planes draw a big vertical heart in the sky and another aircraft pierces it horizontally.

The smoke trails used by the aircraft paint the sky in the colours of the tricolour and the IAF.

All the pilots in the team are qualified flight instructors and have a minimum of 2,000 hours flying experience. They have a set routine for airshows that they rigorously practice at their home base in Bidar.

Keeping with trends of display teams in air forces around the world even the Suryakirans have their own uniform and patches, distinct from other pilots and crew.

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