Surya Kiran

Last updated

Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT)
Suryakiran insignia.svg
Surya Kiran seal
Active27 May 1996–30 June 2011
15 February 2015–present
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Branch Indian Air Force
Role Aerobatic display
Part of No. 52 Squadron, IAF
Garrison/HQ Bidar Air Force Station
Nickname(s)The Sharks
Motto(s)सदैव सर्वोत्तम - Sadaiva Sarvōttama
(Sanskrit: "Always the Best") [1]
Colorsday-glo orange and white
  
DecorationsChief of Air Staff Unit Citation
Commanders
Current
commander		Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi [2]
Aircraft flown
Trainer

Surya Kiran (transl. Rays of the Sun) is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and is a part of the No. 52 Squadron of the Indian Air Force. The team is based at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka and has performed numerous demonstrations. The squadron was initially composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with BAE Hawk Mk.132 aircraft in 2015.

Contents

History

In the late 1940s, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had a display flight squadron which carried out aerobatic displays on special occasions. The team flew Hawker Hunter aircraft and was led by Marshal Arjan Singh. The team led a flypast of more than hundred aircraft on the occasion of India's Independence day in 1947. [3] During the golden jubilee year of the Indian Air Force in 1982, select fighter pilots from various squadrons were assigned to the No. 20 Squadron (Lightnings) to form an aerobatic team called The Thunderbolts. Flying nine blue and white colored Hunter aircraft, the team performed aerobatic displays till 1989. [4]

Surya Kiran team flew HAL HJT-16 Kiran aircraft from 1996 to 2011 Hindustan HJT-16 Kiran II Krivchikov 2007.jpg
Surya Kiran team flew HAL HJT-16 Kiran aircraft from 1996 to 2011

The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and was based at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka. [5] The team and was initially composed of HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft. [6] The team was formed under Wing Commander Kuldeep Malik who had been a member of the Thunderbolts on the eve of Aero India 1996, the first aerospace defense exhibition. [7] The team initially flew four aircraft before moving to six aircraft formation in May 1996. [8] The Surya Kiran team performed their first public display for the golden jubilee celebrations of Air Force Administrative College at Coimbatore on 15 September 1996. [8]

In 1998, under the command of Wing Commander A. K. Murgai, the team expanded to a nine-aircraft formation which was displayed in public for the first time during the Independence Day celebrations in Red Fort. [8] The team became the first Air Force unit to be awarded the Chief of Air Staff Unit Citation, which it received on 8 October 2004. Effective 1 May 2006, the team was accorded a separate squadron, becoming the No. 52 Squadron of the Indian Air Force nicknamed the Sharks. [8] After Aero India 2011, the Surya Kiran team was grounded because the Air Force faced a shortage of Kiran training aircraft. In February 2015, the Surya Kiran team was re-formed with the induction of the British BAe Hawk trainer aircraft under the command of then Wing Commander Ajit Kulkarni. [8]

Aircraft and organization

The team uses BAE Systems Hawk Mk.132 aircraft since 2015 Surya Kiran at Air Force Day parade 2015.jpg
The team uses BAE Systems Hawk Mk.132 aircraft since 2015

The Surya Kiran team operated HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircraft from 1996 to 2011. In October 2015, an agreement was signed for the purchase of twenty BAE Systems Hawk Mk.132 aircraft fitted with smoke canisters dedicated to the aerobatics display role. [9] The team has been utilizing the Hawk aircraft since 2015. [8] The aircraft are painted in bright "day-glo" orange and white colour scheme. [10] The inboard drop tanks of the aircraft are modified to carry color dye mixed with diesel fuel for generating colored smoke. [11]

The team has 13 pilots on roster of which nine fly at any given time. The pilots undergo a selection process twice a year and are chosen to serve for a three-year period. [12] Besides the pilots, the team has a Flight Commander, an administrator and technical officers tasked with the maintenance and servicing of the aircraft.

Commanders

Commanders of the Surya Kiran Acrobatic Team
Name with RankStartEndDesignationReference
Wing Commander Kuldeep Malik1 June 199630 March 1997Team Leader [7]
Wing Commander Anil Kumar Murgai31 March 199730 May 1999Team Leader [7]
Wing Commander Amit Tiwari31 May 199929 November 2001Team Leader [7]
30 November 200130 May 2002Commanding Officer
Wing Commander Sreekumar Prabhakaran31 May 200230 June 2005Commanding Officer [7]
Wing Commander Sandeep Bansal1 July 200530 March 2008Commanding Officer [7]
Wing Commander Joy Thomas Kurien31 March 200830 June 2010Commanding Officer [7]
Wing Commander Ajit Kulkarni15 February 20152018Commanding Officer [8]
Group Captain Prashant Grover201819 July 2020Commanding Officer [13]
Group Captain Anoop Singh20 July 20202 August 2022Commanding Officer [14] [13]
Group Captain Gurpreet Singh Dhillon3 August 202221 October 2024Commanding Officer [14]
Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi22 October 2024PresentCommanding Officer [2]

Performance

On an average, the team performs about 30 shows a year, and flies three sorties a day during the training season and two a day whilst on aerobatics display. [12] The modified planes use aerosols to create various flight designs and patterns. [15] The aircraft fly at speeds ranging from 150 km/h (93 mph) to 600 km/h (370 mph) and can reach speeds of up to 1,100 km/h (680 mph) while performing manoeuvres. [16] [12] The maneuvers subject the pilots to alternating g-forces between +6 and –1.5. [12]

The team generally flies a nine aircraft formation Surya Kiran.jpg
The team generally flies a nine aircraft formation
The team flying over the Hussain Sagar Lake at Hyderabad. SKAT Hussain Sagar.jpg
The team flying over the Hussain Sagar Lake at Hyderabad.

The Surya Kiran team performed their first public display with six aircraft for the golden jubilee celebrations of Air Force Administrative College at Coimbatore on 15 September 1996. [8] In August 1998, the nine-aircraft formation was displayed in public for the first time during the Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi. [8] The team gave its first performance abroad during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lankan Air Force in March 2001. [17] The team has performed over 500 displays in more than 72 cities across India. The team has performed at an altitude of 5,436 ft (1,657 m) in Srinagar and over the seas which is challenging due to the water affecting depth perception. [12]

Aerosols mixed with dyes are used to produce colors SKAT (cropped).jpg
Aerosols mixed with dyes are used to produce colors

The team has also performed in various countries like China, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and Singapore. [12] The team has performed at multiple Aero India shows. In February 2004, the team performed at the Asian Aerospace air show in Singapore. The team performed in Malaysia in December 2007 at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia's Independence. [18] In December 2007, the team in coordination with the Royal Thai Air Force conducted a nine-aircraft display to commemorate the 80th Birth Anniversary of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand. In November 2008, the team was invited to participate in the Zhuhai Airshow in China and the team displayed in Laos during its return. [19] After resurrection in 2015, the team performed their first performance abroad in March 2021 for the 70th anniversary of the Sri Lankan Air Force, exactly 20 years after the team’s very first foreign tour. [17] On 19 November 2023, the team performed during the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad. [6] On 6 October 2024, the team performed in the 92nd anniversary celebrations of the Indian Air Force at Marina Beach in Chennai. [20]

Incidents

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerobatics</span> Flying maneuvers involving attitudes not attained during normal flight

Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aeroplane" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment, and sport. Additionally, some helicopters, such as the MBB Bo 105, are capable of limited aerobatic manoeuvres. An example of a fully aerobatic helicopter, capable of performing loops and rolls, is the Westland Lynx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Arrows</span> Aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force

The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force (RAF) based at RAF Waddington. The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-Royal Air Force team, replacing a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by RAF commands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAE Systems Hawk</span> Military training aircraft family

The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, jet-powered advanced trainer aircraft. It was first known as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk, and subsequently produced by its successor companies, British Aerospace and BAE Systems. It has been used in a training capacity and as a low-cost combat aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowbirds (aerobatic team)</span> Canadas military flight demonstration squadron

The Snowbirds, officially known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The team is based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Snowbirds' official purpose is to "demonstrate the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel". The team also provides a public relations and recruiting role, and serves as an aerial ambassador for the Canadian Armed Forces. The Snowbirds are the first Canadian air demonstration team to be designated as a squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Air Force</span> Aerial service branch of the Indian Armed Forces

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India's aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal. After India gained independence from United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of the Dominion of India. With the transition to a republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL HJT-36 Sitara</span> Trainer aircraft in India

The HAL HJT-36 Sitara is a subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft designed and developed by Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The HJT-36 will replace the HAL HJT-16 Kiran as the Stage-2 trainer for the two forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarang display team</span> Military unit

Sarang is an aerobatic air display team of the Indian Air Force. Formally established as the No. 151 Helicopter Unit in 2005, the unit flies five modified HAL Dhruv helicopters and is based out of Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India, at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. It is organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL HJT-16 Kiran</span> Indian jet trainer aircraft

The HAL HJT-16 Kiran is an Indian two-seat intermediate jet-powered trainer aircraft designed and manufactured by aircraft company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biju Patnaik Airport</span> Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Biju Patnaik Airport is an international airport serving Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, India. It is situated around 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south-west of Bhubaneswar Railway Station and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the city center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halcones</span> Military unit

Escuadrilla de Alta Acrobacia Halcones, known simply as the 'Hawks' (Halcones), is an active group of nine officers of the Chilean Air Force who are trained specifically for aerobatics. One of the Halcones' signature moves is recreating the Chilean star in the air using smoke. The team may be likened to the British Royal Air Force's Red Arrows for their affinity for complex, high-risk, aviation-based manoeuvers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagar Pawan</span> Indian Navy Aerobatic Team

Sagar Pawan was an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Navy's aviation arm. The team was formed as a part of squadron 551 in 2003. While in operation, it was one of the only two naval aerobatic teams in the world along with the Blue Angels of the US Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RSAF Black Knights</span> Military unit

The Black Knights is the official aerobatics team of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) featuring six F-16Cs Fighting Falcon in formation flight. The Black Knights' emblem is sported on the red vertical tail of each of the team's aircraft and the team's name is emblazoned on both sides of the aircraft which are painted in red and white—the national colours of Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">INS Hansa</span> Airport in Goa, India

INS Hansa, is an Indian naval air station located near Dabolim in Goa, India. It is India's biggest naval airbase. The military air base has a civil enclave, that operates as Dabolim Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidar Airport</span> Airport in Bidar, Karnataka, India

Bidar Airport is a domestic airport serving the city of Bidar, Karnataka, India. It operates as a civil enclave on the Indian Air Force's Bidar Air Force Station.

Sirsa Air Force Station or Sirsa AFS is an Indian Air Force base under Western Air Command, located at Sirsa in the state of Haryana, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidar Air Force Station</span> IAFs advanced fighter pilot training centre

Bidar Air Force Station,, is a second largest flight training center in India. It is established by the Indian Air Force and It was founded during World War II and has been a training center for Indian Air Force pilots since 1963. Trainer aircraft like the HAL HT-2 and variants of HAL HJT-16 Kiran have been used at the airbase for nearly four decades. In 2011, the station was remodeled and refurbished, with the runway extended to 9000 feet and new facilities for aircraft engine maintenance and testing added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 52 Squadron IAF</span> Military unit

No. 52 Squadron is an aerobatic squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was established in January 1986. It is presently based at Bidar Air Force Station. It is popularly known as the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT). SKAT performs across the country, and has performed in China, the UK, Germany, Laos and Sri Lanka. The Surya Kirans were among the top three nine-aircraft aerobatics teams in the world, along with the British Red Arrows and the Canadian Snowbirds. The Squadron motto is "Sadaiv Sarvottam", which translates as "Always the Best". For its consistent performance since 1996, the Suryakiran was awarded Chief of the Air Staff's Unit Citation on 8 October 2004. It is the first unit in the IAF to receive this award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL HLFT-42</span> Indian trainer aircraft project

The HAL HLFT-42 is a design for an Indian lead-in fighter trainer proposed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Designed as a next-generation supersonic trainer jet, serving as an advanced trainer for upcoming HAL Tejas Mk2 and HAL AMCA fighter jets. Notably, the HLFT-42 will also be used as a fully-fledged fighter jet to perform combat missions. HAL unveiled the design of the scale model of the HLFT-42 at the 14th edition of Aero India (2023), which was held in Bangalore.

References

  1. ↑ "No.52 Squadron Sharks". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi Takes Command of Suryakiran Aerobatic Team". SSB. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Padma Vibhushan, DFC". Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Thunderbolts". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "IAF's Surya Kiran team performs" (Press release). Government of India. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Aero India in Bengaluru: Surya Kiran to shine over today's final". New Indian Express. 19 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Suryakiran: Flying formation that dazzles the skies with loops, rolls and dives". The Tribune . Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "For Surya Kiran aerobatics team, IAF set to purchase 20 Hawks". The Indian Express. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "Surya Kiran team" (PDF). Vayu Aerospace. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Surya Kiran aerobatics team set to present 500th display". The Hindu . 13 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "In A First, Indian Air Force To Grace The Skies During World Cup Final". NDTV . 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. 1 2 @Suryakiran_IAF (20 July 2020). "Today Group Captain Prashant Grover hands over the baton to Group Captain Anoop Singh VM as the next Leader of the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. 1 2 @Suryakiran_IAF (3 August 2022). "Gp Capt GS Dhillon takes over as Team Leader, Suryakiran Aerobatic Team from Gp Capt Anoop Singh VM" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ Desai, Rishikesh Bahadur (20 February 2015). "Will the original daredevils be back?". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Surya Kiran's aerobatics leave spectators spellbound". The Times of India . 23 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Air Force Dare Devils to Fly Again After 4 Years". NDTV . Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "India's Suryakirans Aerobatic Team To Perform At LIMA 2007". Bernama.com, Malaysian National News Agency. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  19. ↑ "Celebrations Galore on the Auspicious occasion of His Majesty's 80th Birth Anniversary". Thaindian. 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  20. ↑ "Chennai's own set to soar with Surya Kiran at the 92nd anniversary celebrations of Indian Air Force". The Hindu . 28 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  21. 1 2 "IAF's Surya Kiran has had its share of accidents". The Tribune . Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "IAF aircraft crash-lands, pilot jumps out". The Hindu . 23 December 2007. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "IAF plane crash: Two IAF Surya Kiran aircraft crash during practice at Aero India 2019 in Bangalore, one pilot dead". The Times of India . 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Surya Kiran Aircraft Crash". Government of India . 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.