Bangalore: “Every day is a new day. When we go up in the air, we are as anxious and careful as a new comer as even the smallest error could be your last..” is how Wing commander Prajwal Singh, one of the Surya Kiran team members sums up the challenges they face in the air.
For the team which kept the Bangalore crowd on the edge, being on the edge is also a hobby.
If you are fascinated by what these dare devils do, well here is what it takes to become one of the pilots. A minimum 10 years of service in the fighter aircraft unit and considerable hours of flying experience. If you qualify, you have to clear a six sortie flying test with flying colours, quite literally. Although the demand to be in the team is high, only two men make it the Surya Kiran cockpit every three years. Even after you join, practise is a necessity, every single day.
The present Kiran MkII U2469 are used by the Surya Kiran team, which will be replaced by the intermediate jet trainer (IJT). At present, due to fewer Kiran aircraft for training new pilots, the number of shows undertaken by the Surya Kiran team will reduce over the next three to four years till the new intermeadiate jet trainers are inducted to the airforce.
According to the pilots, the new IJT would provide them with much higher manoeuverability and performance. “The machine we have right now is exceptional. The proposed machine, IJT, will allow us to stretch our skills beyond what we are doing now,” said squadron leader Ramji Yadov.
13/02/11 Arun Dev & Shilpa Phadnis/Times of India
Posts Tagged 'Aerobatics'
An act of daredevilry, every day
Published February 13, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, Suryakiran
Living life on the edge everyday says Suryakiran team
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, Suryakiran
Bangalore:Â Members of the Suryakiran team, Indian Air Force’s elite aerobatics squad, today highlighted the attributes that went into the making of a Suryakiran pilot.
“To be a Suryakiran pilot you need to have the courage of a bull fighter, the steady nerves of a surgeon and the spirit of a braveheart”, said wing commander Prajual Singh, team leader and commanding officer of the squad, performing at the ongoing Aero India show.
“Most of us are in the team because we love the thrill and the sheer adventure it offers”, Singh said.
The team has mesmerismed onlookers with their risky, crisp and stunning mid-air complex manoeuvres at the show.
“Knowledge of the aircraft, maturity to take the right decision and discipline are the three basic traits required”, said Singh, whose team’s mid-air stunts like criss-crossing in the skies, rolling the metal bird on its belly and looping around, has come in for accolades.
“Alertness and precision required for conducting an aerobatic display, requires continuous practice”, said wing commander Deepak Setia. “It is only practice that makes us perfect”, said Singh echoing Setia’s views.
11/02/11 Daily News & Analysis
The men who orchestrate Yelahanka aerial symphony
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, Aircraft and System Testing Establishment
Bangalore: The Bangalore-based Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE) may not be as popular as the fighter jets or for that matter the men behind them. However, this team is the one, which orchestrates the numerous aerobatic stunts and scintillating manoeuvres that the audiences get to see at the Aero India show.
The ASTE team, apart from overseeing the flight display is also entrusted with the job of ensuring flight safety when the fighter jets perform their dog fights and other maneouvers in front of hundreds of spectators.
“We are the nerve centre of the Aero India all flight operations are monitored by us. We observe closely how the aircraft take-off and land in order to ensure that they not defy safety rules,†said Group Captain N Tiwari, the flight display director of Aero India 2011.
He said that, on an average, about 40 aircraft take-off and land during the show and that the team has been put up at the Air Force Station Yelahanka (AFSY) since February 7, the day the aircraft starting arriving at the air base.
12/02/11 Hemanth CS/Daily News & Analysis
Surya Kiran to fly Hawks
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, Hawk, Suryakiran
Bangalore: The famed Surya Kiran aerobatic team of Indian Air Force will fly Hawk advanced jet trainers, not Kirans, at next Aero India. Its Kiran aircraft will be sent to the Bidar air force station in Karnataka for training rookie pilots.
Commanding officer of the team wing commander Prajual Singh said on Friday with the air force in a transition mode, several new aircraft were entering its stables. Surya Kiran would also get modern planes, he said.
Hawks, however, would be a temporary replacement as the team will ultimately fly the indigenous intermediate jet trainers which are set to get initial operational clearance in June. Prajual Singh said with the new aircraft, Surya Kiran will not only perform existing maneuvers but also add a few new ones.
12/02/11 Hemanth CS/Daily News & Analysis
Breathtaking manoeuvres are missing this year, rue visitors
Published February 10, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics
There were heart-stopping moments. These were interspersed with heart-dropping moments as well. The eighth edition of Bangalore’s flagship event, Aero India 2011, opened to mixed reactions. The first-timers sat with their hearts in their mouths. But those who had seen Aero India before and enjoyed all that, said that the manoeuvres were not enough.
But everyone sat with their eyes glued to the skies as Surya Kirans, Tejas and Grippens soared in the skies and matched the sweltering sun rays with their aerobatics.
The inaugural show had the VVIPs from the armed forces, those holding high posts in the aviation industry and the aviation enthusiasts in full attendance. Ratan Tata was spotted among the guests and so was minister Shobha Karandlaje.
Metrolife interacted with the people at the show and asked them what impressed them the most. Many spoke about the variety of aircraft while others picked out the manoeuvres that they particularly liked and wished they could see them all over again.
The many press releases being passed around were proof that several business deals had been struck on the opening day and the exhibition stalls too seemed to have visitors trooping in through the day.
09/02/11 Nina C George/Deccan Herald
Aero India 2011: Aerobatic display by fighter jets, copters to be major attraction
Published February 8, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, General
Bangalore: Aero India 2011, Asia’s biggest air show, which gets underway at the Yelahanka Air Force base near Bangalore from February 9, will be the largest ever with 29 countries bringing their aerospace products, including fighter jets and transport aircraft.
This year’s show has been oversubscribed in terms of exhibition space and the Defence Exhibition Organisation has had to refuse further bookings.
The flying displays will see some of the latest fighter planes, including Eurofighter Typhoons, Sweden’s Gripen, the French Dassault Rafael , Boeing’s F-16 Super Viper and Lockheed Martin’s F-18 Super Hornet, besid besides unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters.
India will display its indigenously built supersonic light combat aircraft and light combat helicopter, which will be on the display for the first time.
Apart from the daily displays by IAF’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team and Sarang helicopter display team, a major attraction at Aero India 2011, will be the debut by Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team at the air show. With its precise and impressive performances, the team has managed to secure a fixed place in the global aerobatics scene and has an outstanding international reputation.
The show will aim at bringing under one roof, exhibitors and other stakeholders from all around the globe to showcase the best in aviation and related technologies and products.
08/02/11 ANI/Economic Times
Flying Bulls to perform exciting aerobatic stunts at Aero India 2011
Published February 8, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, General
The Czech Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team, which will perform at the Aero India 2011 with their fleet of four Zlin 50 LXes. The Flying Bulls’ 17-minute performance will include the box formation and the mirror flight.
The “acrobats of the air†from the Czech Republic are here to make their debut at the Aero India 2011. The Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team, consisting of civilian pilots Radka Machova, Jiri Saller, Jirà Veprek and Miroslav Krejci, has together logged more than 35,000 flying hours. Leading the team is 62-year-old Ms. Machova, who has been flying since 1971 and is the newest member of the team. Experience is something this team swears by, and they wear the average age of the team, which is 50, proudly on their sleeves.
The team was formed way back in 1960 but only one member of that team is still part of it. The present team came together in 1993 and was rechristened after 2000 with the start of their association with Red Bull. The Flying Bulls will perform at the Aero India 2011 with their fleet of four Zlin 50 LXes. The Czech-built Zlin 50 LX is known to be safe for the exciting formations that are made with it as it is manufactured as an aerobatic plane. The plane is preferred for its spacious cabin that facilitates eye contact with the other aircraft during formations as well as the ease to manoeuvre it even at a low speed. The aircraft can go at a speed of 270 kilometres per hour and reach up to 330 kilometres while diving.
08/02/11 My Bangalore
