New Delhi, April 18: After enthralling audiences across the country with its gravity defying stunts, the Sarang helicopter display team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to make its debut over European skies in June with a series of performances in Germany, the UK and France. The three-aircraft Sarang team, which operates the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), is one of the few helicopter aerobatic display teams in the world and has made quite a name for itself in a short span of five years since it was raised.
The team will kick off its first round of aerial displays in Europe with a performance at the prestigious Berlin Air Show on June 1. What makes the appearance special is the fact that India is the official partner country for the air show this year and more than 25 Indian exhibitors will showcase their products before the international audience.
The ILA Berlin Air Show is one of the longest standing aerospace exhibitions in the world and is expecting more than 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries this year besides an “exhaustive flying display of fixed and rotary wing” aircraft. HAL will display its single-engine jet trainer, HJT-36 Sitara, for the first time at the air show.
After Berlin, the Sarang team will head for London where it is scheduled to perform at the Biggin Hill International Air Fair on June 7. The Indian team will perform their “aerial ballet” for two consecutive days at the air show that had over one lakh visitors from across the world last year.
The air show will also see the Sarang team crossing swords with their counterpart in the UK, the Royal Navy Black Cats. The British team is set to perform at the air show on the same dates as the Sarang display. However, the UK team operates two Westland Lynx helicopters against the more visually appealing three aircraft ALH formation of the IAF. The only other military helicopter display team is the Blue Eagles of the British Army Aviation Corps.
After the UK tour, the display team is expected to head off for the concluding show in France. In the past, the Sarang team has performed in Chile and Singapore, besides numerous shows in India.
Source: Indian Express
This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
No account yet? Just Create an account first and head to the shop
/elal.gif)
