Suryakiran Aerobatic team
The Suryakiran Formation Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed on 27 May 96 at AF Stn Bidar. The Team has rapidly evolved since that humble beginning and has stamped its professional acumen by becoming one of the renowned formation aerobatic teams of the world.
This Team displays all facets of the IAF’s professionalism at the highest level and has showcased its skill across the span of the country, from Dal Lake in the North to Trivandrum in the South and from Chabua in the East to Naliya in the West. The team has also participated in all Bangalore Aero-India International Air Show in 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2011. The Team has also displayed abroad at Colombo, Sri Lanka in Mar 2001 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Sri Lankan Air Force. In 2004 the Team flew the Indian tricolor in the skies of Myanmar and Thailand, while on its way to Singapore. The impressive displays during Asian Aerospace 2004 at Singapore generated tremendous amount of goodwill for India and the IAF. The Team also participated at LIMA07 in Malaysia, where its performance was highly appreciated. In Nov 2008, Suryakiran become the first unit from the IAF to cross over to China and participate in the Zhuhai International Airshow. The Team generated a very high degree of goodwill and interest amongst the people of the host nation and all the displays were very well attended and received. Following China, the Team also performed two displays in Laos, further colouring foreign skies with Indian tri-colours. The team was disbanded for a short period from 2011 and resurrected in 2015 on the advanced jet trainer- Hawk Mk 132.
Over the years, ‘Suryakiran’ has emerged as the ‘Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force’ and we are aware of the tremendous responsibility and trust that has been placed upon us. The team performs to build confidence of our fellow countrymen in the capabilities of the IAF entrusted with guarding your sky and to motivate the Indian youth to join the IAF. In two decades of existence, the Team has inspired a whole generation of Indians to join the IAF and has won accolades from all over the world.
The Team pilots are selected twice a year for a three year tour of duty, from the fighter stream of the IAF. Wg Cdr Ajit Kulkarni is the Commanding Officer of the Team. He is a fully operational MiG-29 pilot, and is on his second tenure with the Team. The leader is flanked on the right by Suryakiran 2, Wg Cdr Vijay Shelke, who is a Mirage 2000 pilot. Onto the leader’s left is Suryakiran 3, Sqn Ldr Shishir Arora, a MiG 29 pilot. Flying as right outer is Suryakiran 6, Wg Cdr Ashwin Thakare, a MiG 27 pilot. Wg Cdr Thakare is the Synchro leader and is on his second tenure with the team. Wg Cdr Akhilesh Singh (Suryakiran 4), who flies line astern to the leader, is a MiG-21 pilot who is also on his second tenure with the team. With his inverted flying runs during displays he gets an enviable amount of attention from the kids and ladies! Sqn Ldr Sahil Gandhi (Suryakiran 5), a Su 30 pilot is the left outer and Synchro 2. Wg Cdr Prashant Grover, a Mig 21 pilot and Wg Cdr Mayank Nautiyal, a Mirage 2000 pilot are standby right and left members. Sqn Ldr Praveen and Sqn Ldr Ajay Dasarathy are the newest and youngest members of the Team. Wg Cdr Venu Nambisan, who is currently on his second stint with the team, is the commentator and also looks after the administrative aspects of the team.
The duration of the display routine varies from about ten to twenty minutes depending upon the location of the display site as well as the environmental conditions. The first half of the routine includes turns, wingovers, loops and barrel rolls in various six aircraft formations. During the second half, the formation splits into two groups to carry a variety of manoeuvres like splits, level and rolling crosses, inverted runs, etc. This display of precision flying and finesse of manoeuvres is the result of intense training, critical examination of each practice sortie and tireless endeavour to achieve the best.
During the display the Team operates between speeds of 250 and 750 kmph and flies within a height band of 60 to 1500 meters. Flying with such split second precision demands peak performance from both man and machine.Led by Wg Cdr RN Sinha and assissted by Flt Lt Sandeep Dhayal, Flt Lt Debraj Roy and Flt Lt Abhay Vinayak, (the Team’s Engineering Officers), 70 technicians work hard to keep the gleaming Hawks in peak performance conditions.
The red and white painted Hawk Mk 132 is used by the IAF to train its fighter pilots in basic fighter manoeuvres and weapon delivery. Originally designed by British Aerospace, United Kingdom, the Hawk Mk 132 is now being made with pride in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore. This ac weighs about five tons and is powered by an Adour engine that generates a thrust of over 5000 lbs, helping the ac to achieve a maximum speed of over 1000 kmph. The Hawk Mk 132 can also be deployed in counter insurgency operations armed with missiles, bombs and rockets.
The team achieved ‘Squadron’ status on 01 May 06, when the team was officially designated as 52 Sqn AF. No. 52 Sqn also known as ‘The Sharks’ was established in 1986 and is the youngest Fighter Sqn of the IAF. 52 Sqn’s motto is ‘ Sadaiv Sarvottam’ , which means ‘Always the Best’. A motto that the Suryakiran Team inherits with ease as it aptly describes the epitome of the Suryakiran Team. In appreciation for its consistent performance since 1996, the Chief of the Air Staff awarded the “Unit Citation” to the Team on 08 Oct 2004. The Suryakiran Team is the first unit of the IAF to receive this award
During the 85th year of the IAF we look forward to fulfilling the aspirations of our spectators. Finishing the day by making the crowd want more and the knowledge of having made a difference in someone’s life are strong motivators for us and our ethos revolves around Esprit de corps and discipline. In our quest for excellence, The Sky is Not the Limit!!
