IAF conducts full dress rehearsal ahead of Suryakiran Airshow in Bhubaneswar

Indian Air Force (IAF) aerobatics display team on Thursday conducted full dress rehearsal ahead of Suryakiran Airshow which will be held on September 16 over Kuakhai bank at Baliyatra ground in Bhubaneswar. 

According to sources, nine pilots will fly HAWK aircraft which is being made in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the final show. The show will begin at 10 am and continue till 11am. Today, the IAF team carried out mapping and checked the ground features so that spectators can witness and enjoy it fully. The IAF personnel also took stock of the condition for the show.

Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place as the show will witness a huge number of spectators. Arrangements have been made for at least 1,200 spectators in the riverbed while more than 50,000 spectators can witness the airshow. As many as 20,000 police platoons have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the air show, said Commissionerate Police sources.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Governor Ganeshi Lal are likely to attend the show.

Similar air show will also be conducted over Raj Bhawan in Puri on September 18.

A spectator said, “I saw the rehearsal of the air show from my rooftop. However, it was not clearly visible. That’s why I rushed to the Bali Yatra ground to enjoy the full dress rehearsal.  Earlier, I used to see it on TV. This is for the first time I watched the show live and will be part of the final show which will be held on Friday.

A small boy said, “I have come to watch the air show and I saw jets. I will definitely come tomorrow to see the final event.”