The event was organised at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre
overlooking Dal Lake

Srinagar: The skies over Srinagar roared on Sunday morning with fighter
jets and Chinook helicopters exhibiting adrenaline-pumping manoeuvres at an
air show conducted after 14 years here.

The air show organised by the Air Force Station, Srinagar, and the government
is part of the ongoing ”Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations, officials
said.

The IAF’s Akash Ganga skydiving and Surya Kiran aerobatic display teams took
part in it.

#AzadiKaAmritMahotsav#IAF ac took to the Skies for an aerial display over Dal Lake in #Srinagar today with a live performance by the #AFBand on ground.

The audience was witness to performances by Su-30MKI, Chinook, Para motor gliders along with #Suryakiran & #Akashganga teams. pic.twitter.com/ewIfsy4fqr

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 26, 2021

The main aim of the show, under the theme of ”Give Wings to Your Dream”, was
to raise awareness among the youth of the Kashmir Valley and motivate them to
join the Indian Air Force and to promote tourism in the region, they said.

The event was witnessed by hundreds of school children and people from across
the valley at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC)
overlooking the Dal Lake here. It was flagged off by Jammu & Kashmir
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The event started with the oldest fighter jets of the IAF — MiG-21s — flying
over the famous Dal Lake and past the enthusiastic audience at SKICC. The four
MiG-21 fighter jets roaring in the sky presented a salute in right turn to the
dais as they flew past, receiving a thundering applause from the audience.

It was followed by IAF’s Akash Ganga skydiving team, which performed exciting
manoeuvres with its pilots jumping out of the aircraft. The 10-member team led
by Squadron Leader Aftab Khan performed thrilling moves achieving a 120 kmph
speed as it moved towards the ground.

As the team members opened their parachutes and displayed various formations,
the Indian national flag, the IAF flag, and the Akash Ganga flag rippled in
the sky. The team, which has various national and international records to its
name, also formed a three-man tricolour formation in air.

After the skydiving team, it was the turn of three Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets to
claim the sky. People were mesmerised to see the jets smoking and roaring in
the sky in ‘Trishul’ formations and tumbling, rolling, and spinning over the
Dal Lake.

The aircraft displayed complex but sophisticated heroics including flying in
reverse-gear and rolling right and left even as the bowl was small with hills
on both sides. Showing its grace, poise, and power, the jets turned quickly at
low speeds over the lake.

With a loop-tumble-yaw and then a vertical Charlie manoeuvre, the jets danced
in the sky firing flares before disappearing over the mountains.

Later, it was time to paint the sky red and white as a nine-aircraft Surya
Kiran aerobatic display team ripped through it performing synchronous
aerobatic manoeuvres for 15 minutes straight. Their arrow formation, diamond
formation, Gaganyan formation, fulcrum formation, and barrel roll enthralled
the audience which kept its eyes peeled to the sky.

The team has carried over 500 displays in 75 cities across the country.

In the second part of their performance, the team brought the thrill closer to
the ground — only 30 metres above it and performed manoeuvres that gave the
audience Goosebumps.

Towards the end, they made a heart-shaped formation with a smoke-trail that
got a huge round of applause from the people.

Then it was the turn of the mighty twin-engine Boeing Chinook CH-47 heavy-lift
helicopters. They were the showstoppers of the event as they flew over the
”Char-Chinar” — the four famous Chinar in the middle of Dal Lake.

The mighty military helicopters came close to the ground near the audience,
and saluted the dais while the water below in the lake was fomented with the
brute force of the two rotors. The audience was left captivated watching the
water dance below the helicopters as they pulled curtains to the
over-an-hour-long show.

Elaborate arrangements, including those related to security, were put in place
for the smooth conduct of the air show. An IAF symphony orchestra display and
motivational photo exhibition on the history of the IAF were also part of the
show.