IAF's Air Show 2024 Lights Up Mumbai's Skyline
By A Draft Correspondent
As part of their outreach programme, the Indian Air Force organised a breath-taking Air Show 2024 at Mumbai's iconic Marine Drive from 11 January till 14 January 2024.
Mumbaikars gathered in thousands thronging the city's sea front to witness the thunderous show by IAF's Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and the Sarang Helicopter air display team.
As part of their outreach programme, the Indian Air Force organised a breath-taking Air Show 2024 at Mumbai's iconic Marine Drive from 11 January till 14 January 2024.
Mumbaikars gathered in thousands thronging the city's sea front to witness the thunderous show by IAF's Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and the Sarang Helicopter air display team.
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| The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team during an aerial display at Mumbai |
The flying display was conducted to create awareness and foster a deeper connection between the Indian Air Force and the local community.
The display included aerobatics by the Surya Kirans and the Sarang team in action elevating the city's skyline with jaw-dropping manoeuvres, Akash Ganga parajump display and Su-30 Low Level aerobatics display.
Surya Kiran (Rays of the Sun) is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and are a part of the 52nd Squadron of the IAF. The team has since performed numerous demonstrations usually with nine aircrafts.
The squadron was composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 military trainer aircraft till 2011 and based at the Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with Hawk Mk-132 aircraft in 2015.
Surya Kiran (Rays of the Sun) is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and are a part of the 52nd Squadron of the IAF. The team has since performed numerous demonstrations usually with nine aircrafts.
The squadron was composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 military trainer aircraft till 2011 and based at the Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with Hawk Mk-132 aircraft in 2015.
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| The Air Show was part of IAF's outreach programme |
Sarang, on the other hand, is the helicopter air display team of the Indian Air Force that flies four modified HAL Dhruv helicopters, also known as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The team was formed in October 2003 and their first public performance was at the Asian Aerospace show, Singapore, in 2004.
The name Sarang, meaning 'peacock' in Sanskrit, is symbolic as the peacock is the national bird of India. The 151 HU name was given to the former ALH Evaluation Flight (AEF), which was formed at ASTE on 17 March 2002.
Sarang Display Team was formed as 151 HU at Yelahanka in 2005. 151 HU shifted from Yelahanka AFS, Bangalore to Sulur Air Force Station, Coimbatore in 2009. They operate four aircraft display teams and are the only Helicopter display team in the world.
Interestingly, during the Air Force Day 2023 observances, they operated five aircraft for the first time.
Watch the video of the aerial display here.
The name Sarang, meaning 'peacock' in Sanskrit, is symbolic as the peacock is the national bird of India. The 151 HU name was given to the former ALH Evaluation Flight (AEF), which was formed at ASTE on 17 March 2002.
Sarang Display Team was formed as 151 HU at Yelahanka in 2005. 151 HU shifted from Yelahanka AFS, Bangalore to Sulur Air Force Station, Coimbatore in 2009. They operate four aircraft display teams and are the only Helicopter display team in the world.
Interestingly, during the Air Force Day 2023 observances, they operated five aircraft for the first time.
Watch the video of the aerial display here.
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