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Indian Air Force celebrates 71st anniversary
New Delhi, Oct 08: The first-ever flypast by India`s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and mid-air refuelling of long-range SU-30 fighter aircraft by a Russian-made IL-78 plane are the highlights of IAF`s 71st anniversary celebrations here today.
New Delhi, Oct 08: The first-ever flypast by India`s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and mid-air refuelling of long-range SU-30 fighter aircraft by a Russian-made IL-78 plane are the highlights of IAF`s 71st anniversary celebrations here today.
A flypast consisting of 43 aircraft would form part of the air force day parade-cum-investiture ceremony at Air Force Station, Palam, an official release said today.
The Air Force Day parade would commence with a heavy lift helicopter Mi-26 leading two Mi-17s in a `VIC` formation trooping the air force ensign. This would be followed by a VIC of three Mi-35 attack helicopters. The fighter aircraft flypast would be led by five Jaguars in Arowhead Formation, closely followed by Arrowhead Formations of upgraded MiG21 Bison, MiG-23 and Mirage Aircraft. The public debut by the newly acquired aerial refuelling aircraft Il-78 refuelling two SU-30 air superiority fighters would follow.
The end of the parade would be marked by the first-ever flypast by a pair of unmanned aircraft, followed in closed succession by a SU-30, flanked by two MiG29 aircraft. The MiG29s would peal off while the SU-30 pulls up steeply into the sky to carry out a "Vertical Charlie". The grand finale would be an aerial ballet by the Surya Kiran aerobatics team consisting of nine Kiran Mk-II aircraft.
Bureau Report
The Air Force Day parade would commence with a heavy lift helicopter Mi-26 leading two Mi-17s in a `VIC` formation trooping the air force ensign. This would be followed by a VIC of three Mi-35 attack helicopters. The fighter aircraft flypast would be led by five Jaguars in Arowhead Formation, closely followed by Arrowhead Formations of upgraded MiG21 Bison, MiG-23 and Mirage Aircraft. The public debut by the newly acquired aerial refuelling aircraft Il-78 refuelling two SU-30 air superiority fighters would follow.
The end of the parade would be marked by the first-ever flypast by a pair of unmanned aircraft, followed in closed succession by a SU-30, flanked by two MiG29 aircraft. The MiG29s would peal off while the SU-30 pulls up steeply into the sky to carry out a "Vertical Charlie". The grand finale would be an aerial ballet by the Surya Kiran aerobatics team consisting of nine Kiran Mk-II aircraft.
Bureau Report