After a six-year hiatus, IAF's aerobatic display team Surya Kiran made a comeback at the Aero India show and how. 'Back with a bang' may just be an understatement for the show that these men in uniform displayed with their all new aircraft, the Hawk Mk 132 trainers. The 6-aircraft team left the audience in awe, gaping at the manoeuvres and formations. A lot may have changed for the team since their last performance including the aircraft, what has not changed, however, is their love for Aero India and the audience's craze for the team.
"We love this place and I was part of the team that participated previously. Aero India is the Mecca of the aviation sector. The who's who of international aviation come and watch us and it is a competitive thing. A military Aerobatic team pitted against other teams that entertain is a different challenge altogether," said Wing Commander Ajit Kulkarni. The team is all set to upgrade to its original 9-aircraft team and have a display as early as October 2017. Wg Cdr Kulkarni says that apart from the flying environment, time sharing due to increase in the number of aircrafts participating and the complexity of planning a particular display, nothing much has changed.
These men make aerobatics seem like a piece of cake but leave alone the display, even team composition is a task in itself. Currently, they are at the fag end of their display schedule which extends from September to March, the team will return to their base in Bidar to begin their a rigorous training season. "Two rookies pilots need to be trained to achieve standards required for display flying. We also have the arduous task of sifting through 40 applicants who have volunteered to join the Surya Kiran team and that is a real task," said Wing Commander Venu Nambisan. It takes a lot to be a pilot for the Surya Kiran team; 1500 hours of flying, being a qualified flying instructor as well as having the will and passion. The all men's team hopes that someday soon, women pilots will be part of the team and fly the hawk Mk 132. As of now, three women pilots have been inducted into the air force and are currently undergoing fighter conversion training. It will be a while before they reach these qualificational requirements to join the team.
16/02/17 Anusha Ravi/One India
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"We love this place and I was part of the team that participated previously. Aero India is the Mecca of the aviation sector. The who's who of international aviation come and watch us and it is a competitive thing. A military Aerobatic team pitted against other teams that entertain is a different challenge altogether," said Wing Commander Ajit Kulkarni. The team is all set to upgrade to its original 9-aircraft team and have a display as early as October 2017. Wg Cdr Kulkarni says that apart from the flying environment, time sharing due to increase in the number of aircrafts participating and the complexity of planning a particular display, nothing much has changed.
These men make aerobatics seem like a piece of cake but leave alone the display, even team composition is a task in itself. Currently, they are at the fag end of their display schedule which extends from September to March, the team will return to their base in Bidar to begin their a rigorous training season. "Two rookies pilots need to be trained to achieve standards required for display flying. We also have the arduous task of sifting through 40 applicants who have volunteered to join the Surya Kiran team and that is a real task," said Wing Commander Venu Nambisan. It takes a lot to be a pilot for the Surya Kiran team; 1500 hours of flying, being a qualified flying instructor as well as having the will and passion. The all men's team hopes that someday soon, women pilots will be part of the team and fly the hawk Mk 132. As of now, three women pilots have been inducted into the air force and are currently undergoing fighter conversion training. It will be a while before they reach these qualificational requirements to join the team.
16/02/17 Anusha Ravi/One India
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