Team SKAT known as Suryakiran (52 Squadron), here at Bidar Air Force base, on Friday.
Suryakiran team has emerged as true ‘ Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force’ for its consistent performance since 1996. The Chief of the Air Staff awarded the “Unit Citation” to the team in October 2004, this is the first unit of the IAF to receive this award.
The airshow display on Friday comprised six aircraft teams headed by Wing Commander D T Kurien which was joined by Wing Commanders Sumeet Malhotra, Anand Pujari, V P Singh, Vineet Kumar Dubey, Auranksha Nandi, Puneet Vig, and supported by Squadron Leaders Roy Choudhary, Kulkarni and Paul.
During their performance, the team presented several air displays which requires high degree of precision and operates between speed of 200 kmph and 600 kmph at a height of 30 mtrs to 1500 mtrs.
The other major remarkable air maneuver was ‘Signature formations’ where combination of six air craft team descending from a height burst out of the loop.
The displays which kept audience spellbound included barbwire, level cross, heart loop, pull up cross, shock wave, phoenix, Yankee, and barrel roll. So far, SKAT has performed more than 400 displays across the country, besides the team has participated in all, Aero-India International airshows held from 1996.
The team has performed abroad in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Suryakiran had been invited to participate at Zhuhai International airshow in China in December 2008 and they also performed at Laos city.
The team won the hearts of Chinese people and brought laurels to the country through their air maneuvering skills. This is the first ever IAF contingent to display their skills in China and Laos.
Air Vice Marshal Rajinder Singh posted as Senior Air Staff Officer, Southern Air Command was the chief guest. Air Officer Commanding Bidar Ramesh Rai and host of senior officials of Bidar Air Force base were present.
Later, Air Vice Marshal Singh said that this was one of the best Aerobatics teams presently performing in the world.