The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Surya Kiran, Sarang teams to perform tomorrow

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Tuesday, Apr 17, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Surya Kiran, Sarang teams to perform tomorrow

Staff Reporter

IAF aerobatic show tomorrow

FOR AIR SHOW: `Dhruv' Advanced Light Helicopters of the Sarang aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force arrive in the city on Monday. - Photo: S. Mahinsha

Thiruvananthapuram: The Surya Kiran and Sarang aerobatic teams of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will rehearse their formation flying over Shangumugham beach at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The actual show is at the same place and time on Wednesday.

The orange-and-white-streaked Kiran Mark-II jets of the Surya Kiran team, 12 in all, landed at the Air Force station here on Monday morning. They were followed by three `Dhruv' Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) of the Sarang team. Wing Commander Sashank Mishra heads the Sarang team. He was one of its founding members and among the few helicopter test pilots who first evaluated the performance of the indigenously made ALH.

Speaking to The Hindu, he said the 5-tonne helicopter had one of the best power to weight ratios in its class. Certain future versions of the ALH would have more powerful engines. Theoretically, the helicopter was capable of "on the back" manoeuvres such as loops and barrel rolls. However, such capabilities of the aircraft were yet to be fully tested.

The aircraft will fly 13 m to 15 m apart from each other. He said performing over sea was more difficult than over land because of strong winds and the absence of visual reference points. The pilots need to be mindful of the down wash from other helicopters in the formation.

The Sarangs will perform in an altitude band of 15 m to 100 m and at speeds ranging from 100 to 200 km per hour. High-speed reverse flights and synchronised "stall turns" are among the most visually appealing elements of the 10-minute display. "The routine is highly demanding. During performance, pilots can rarely even take a glance at the viewers below", he said.

The Synchro Pair of the Surya Kiran, the fighter pilot duo responsible for high velocity air stunts during the show, were at the airfield for a reconnaissance flight of the staging area. Wing Commander John Cruz, the "Synchro" leader, is a Mig-29 fighter pilot and one of the senior most members of the team. Raj Thakur, a MIG-23 pilot, is his second man. Wing Commander Cruz said the three aircraft inverted "VIK" formation was one of the several new elements of the show. He said one of the the Synchro Pair stunts would have two aircraft flying at each other at 500 kmph and coming as close as 5 m during the "cross over." The Synchro Pair is drawn from among the most experienced pilots in the team. "You have to be at least one year with the team to be a Synchro," Mr. Thakur said.

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