Visitors to Aero India 2017 over the next four days are in for a treat as the Sarang helicopter display team of the Indian Air Force had the audience in cheers on the inaugural day, with their formation flying and manoeuvres. According to the team, this was only a small glimpse of what is to come in the coming days.
Wing Commander S.A. Gadre, Commanding Officer of the 55-member team, told The Hindu that they were looking forward to performing aerobatic manoeuvres like the heart, the double-arrow cross and the level mesh from Wednesday. While precise formation displays by fixed-wing aircraft is popular, it is difficult for helicopters to perform similar displays because of the large rotors.
“For the inaugural function, time was limited and we flew in formations like the inverted wineglass, India (each helicopter behind the other) and diamond, and also executed stall turns and level-cross manoeuvres. From tomorrow [Wednesday], the display time will be more and we will get a chance to perform longer,” Gadre said. On Tuesday, the team awed the spectators with their signature move — the Sarang split, which involves the four helicopters criss-crossing one another vertically and horizontally to form a knot.
The team is comprised of 10 pilots currently who are chosen through a rigorous selection process. “We test the volunteers on flying skills, interviews and written tests. We are looking for their ability to maintain close formations as well as their aptitude,” he said. The team, which sees members from varied backgrounds, has one thing in common — an undying love for helicopter flying.
Working with the 10 pilots are three engineering officers, an officer who looks at the commentary for the show and other technicians. Two of the officers Wing Commander P.R. Ponappa and Squadron Leader G. Komar hail from Karnataka.
What to expect
Formations such as ‘line astern’, ‘diamond’
Manoeuvres such as ‘stall turn’ and ‘dolphin’s leap’ and their signature manoeuvre ‘Sarang split’
