Cassian Baliarsingh

The State capital is all set to witness the beautiful Suryakiran Airshow by Indian Air Force (IAF) aerobatics display team on September 16. The IAF will exhibit the air show over a stretch of Kuakhai river bed in Bhubaneswar.

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

Elaborate security arrangements have been made as the program is set to witness a huge number of spectators. Arrangements have been made for at least 1200 spectators in the riverbed while more than 50,000 spectators can witness the airshow.

Members of IAF reached Odisha to check the condition for the airshow. Rehearsal for the airshow is now being done ahead of show.

Speaking on the preparations for the event, Suryakiran Airshow Team Administrator Ridhima said, “Today, we are carrying out mapping. Our pilots are checking the ground features as to where and how they will perform on September 16. Tomorrow all the nine fighter jets will reach here and we will discuss other details regarding the performance in the show. We are trying to give best angle so that spectators can witness and enjoy it fully.”

“The show will be for 18-20 minutes. Our timing is at around 10am. Like it was done here, it will also be done in Puri. The Airshow in Puri will be held on Sunday,” she added.

“The flights that we are flying are HAWK aircraft. They are being made in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). At least nine pilots will fly the aircraft. We also have additional three other pilots,” she concluded.

The air show will also be conducted over Raj Bhavan in Puri on September 18.

Apart from Odisha, the IAF will also display air shows in Guwahati on September 26 and 27 in Chandigarh on October 8 and at Bareilly on October 14.

Formed in 1996, Surya Kiran is an aerobatics demonstration team and a part of the 52nd Squadron of the IAF. It performs numerous demonstrations, at present with Hawk Mk-132 aircraft.

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