Seemingly at home in their cozy corner of the Indian Air Force building, where a gorgeous view of the tarmac spreads out, the Scandinavian Airshow hopes to provide an act the Aero India and the city have never seen before.
If all goes according to plan, on February 18 — the final day of the Aero India where the largest crowds are expected to congregate — when darkness engulfs the sky, three planes in their fleet Viking, Wasp and Catwalk are set to take off. LEDs will light up the planes; lasers will point out of the nose of the aircraft; and during the twirls and motions, fireworks will emanate from the wing tip; all the while, the manoeuvres of the planes will be coordinated with music.
Jacob Hollander, air show pilot and managing director of the Scandinavian Airshow, is keeping his fingers crossed and hopes to provide a grand spectacle (called ‘LLP’- LED, laser, pyro) to mark the end of the “plane carnival”. During the 2015 edition, the team had suggested the idea to the organisers. Barely 30 minutes before the last display, the permission was denied.
“We have asked for permission and the air force seems positive. We have done it in Visakhapatnam and Goa, and we want to bring LLP to Bengaluru,” he says. None the less, a pyro technician and a laser specialist are part of the 11-member crew, working behind the scenes to ensure that the show can go on.
Warm days
After debuting in Aero India 2015, the popular troupe has returned with glee for the 2017 edition. With two other foreign aerobatics teams not performing this year, all eyes are on the Swedish planes. This year, says Mr. Hollander, their routine performances have been tweaked as a third pilot has joined the crew.
“We came nearly 10 days before the air show began, and apart from a half-day, we have been working to assemble the aircraft and practise runs,” says Mr. Hollander.
The warm days — much unlike their native towns in Sweden — did take some adjusting to. The pilots say the heat and altitude makes their engines go a little slower, while the cockpits tend to heat up. “We have to open our canopies to cool ourselves down,” says Mr. Hollander.
What does it take to be strapped to a wing?
As the Swedish planes twist and twirl in the air, most eyes are on the ‘Skycat Wingwalkers’ — women who are exposed to the winds, and yet, seemingly able to perform their agile dance mimicking the flight they are strapped to. On the ground, when their distinctive catsuits, silver whiskers and curling tails are seen, most mobile phones and cameras are focussed on them.
“Between the shows, we love walking among the audience and taking pictures with them. We think of it as a part of the show, to get them more involved. There are big crowds here and people are very eager,” says Hella Stening, who is among the three ‘skycats’ at the Aero India.
So, what does it take to become a skycat? Rules in Sweden specify that only professional skydivers can be taken on for the aerobatics as they would have a “natural ability” to handle heights and high winds. “We do not have parachutes ... so far, there has been no incident,” she says.
Having been part of the act for a decade now, does she feel the daredevilry is reduced to a routine? “Being strapped in air has become comfortable, but new air shows allow us to see new countries. The excitement is still there,” says Ms. Stening.
