Surya Kirans: They are back to kiss the Sun

Do the phrases ‘scissors cross’, ‘barrel role’, ‘bomb burst’ and ‘arrow piercing the carved heart’ sound familiar? Yes, the roaring, daring Surya Kirans are back with their breathtaking maneuvers for this year’s edition of Aero India, starting on February 9.
After a gap of four years, the team has returned with their nine-aircraft formation. During the 2009 edition of the air show, the Kirans performed with only six aircraft and the show time was cut down to a mere seven minutes from the usual 20 minutes of spectacular air extravaganza.
This caution was the fallout of the deadly air crash which took place on January 22, 2009, claiming the life of Wing Commander R S Dhaliwal. The tragic accident occurred near Bidar during a routine training sortie. The Surya Kiran team, which is based in Bidar, was practicing for the Aero India event when the fatal mishap took place. Two years later, the daredevils are back. “They have returned to their nine-plane formation and they have something special in their kitty for Bengalu reans. Bengaluru has always been a favourite destination for the team, which have exhibited their brilliant aerobatics worldwide,” said a senior official from Indian Air Force.
The Surya Kirans are one of only three aerobatic teams in the world which have a nine-aircraft formation. Two teams , Red Arrows from Britain and Snow Birds of Canada, fly frontline fighter aircraft or advanced jets, but the Surya Kirans fly a basic indigenous jet trainer – Kiran MK II.
01/02/11 Deccan Chronicle

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Categories: Aero India 2011