Giving a glimpse of things in store on Wednesday, frontline fighter jets and aerobatic display teams put up a grand show for the multitude that gathered at the Shanghumughom beach on Tuesday morning, as part of the rehearsal for the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s air show on Wednesday.
The proceedings started off in the morning with a rifle drill by the air warriors drill team of 18 members, using .303 rifles. Soon, four indigenous ‘Dhruv’ Advanced Light Helicopters of the Sarang team zoomed across the sky drawing cheers from the crowd that had started gathering right in the morning.
The helicopters crossed so close to each other that their rotor wings almost touched each other. They flew low, came together and burst away like glitter out of a birthday balloon.
A formation of three Jaguar fighter jets passed smoothly from one end of the horizon to the other in a flash. The loudest cheers of the day were reserved for the team of three Sukhoi fighter jets. The highlight of the Sukhoi performance was the cobra manoeuvre, where the aircraft suddenly raises the nose momentarily to the vertical position and slightly beyond, before dropping it back to normal flight.
Things came to a close with some jaw dropping parachute jumps by the Akashganga sky diving team from the Paratroopers training school in Agra. Ten jumpers dropped by MI 8 helicopters participated in the display. A three man stack formation and a two-man formation were the highlights of the Akashganga team.
With schools closed for the Christmas vacation, a huge number of children accompanied by their parents were in attendance. People had gathered in small groups along the road from Chakka junction to the beach. Cars were parked along both sides of the road, for about 2 kilometres along the stretch leading to the beach. The rush of the vacation crowd is expected to increase on Wednesday, when all the fighter jets will be in full flow.
