Karnataka - Belgaum   

Suryakiran team enthrals people of Belgaum

Staff Correspondent

Aerobatic show held as part of post-war reunion of MLIRC

DAREDEVILRY: The Suryakiran team performing `Rolling Cross' on the occasion of the 13th post-war reunion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belgaum on Friday.

Belgaum: It as an unforgettable experience for the residents of Belgaum when the Suryakiran Formation Aerobatic Team wowed then with their thrilling sorties on Friday.

A large number of people waited at the open ground in front of Military Ganapati temple on Hindalga Road around noon to witness the spectacle. A team of six Suryakiran aircraft took off from Goa air base, crossed the picturesque Western Ghats and entered the skies over Belgaum. It was cheers all the way when the aircraft swarmed into the air and displayed various aerobatic formations to a highly enthusiastic crowd, which included Army officers, their family members and a large number of civilians.

Prominent Among the audience included Army Chief General J.J. Singh and several senior officials of the Indian Army. The SKAT display was organised as part of the ongoing four-day celebrations of 13th Post-War Reunion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre.

The display lasted for 20 minutes. The first half was routine exercises that included turns, wingovers, loops and barrel rolls in various six aircraft formations. Though there are nine aircrafts in the SKAT, only six were here on the occasion. The second half gave a truly hair-raising and spine-chilling experience to the audience with the formations splitting into two groups to carry out a variety of manoeuvres like splits, level and rolling crosses, inverted runs, heart loop, etc. The manoeuvres displayed included Yankee, Shock wave, Wedge, Tango, Vixen Break, Goblet, Phoenix and Pyramid.

The pilots who participated in Friday's show were Wg. Cdr. Sandeep Bansal, Sqn. Ldr. Rahul Lilani, Wg. Cdr. Abhijit Tokekar, Wg. Cdr .Sunil Sadashivpeth, Wg. Cdr. John Cruz and Sqn. Ldr. Ashok Raj Thakur. There were four stand-by crew. About 50 technicians are engaged to keep the nine Suryakiran aircraft in pristine condition.

The SKAT is the first unit of the IAF to receive "Unit Citation" awarded by the Chief of the Air Staff in appreciation of its performance.

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