Mysoreans will have the opportunity of witnessing for the first time thrilling aerobatic demonstration by the renowned Suryakiran team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) during this Dasara.
Besides ‘Suryakiran’ team with their nine sky machines, six ‘Sarang’ advanced light helicopters will participate in the air show by the IAF teams on September 24 here at the Banni Mantap grounds.
The ‘Suryakiran’ aerobatic team, formed in 1996 and successor to the famous ‘Thunderbolts’, is known for showcasing its professionalism, the caliber and mettle of the IAF. It is based at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka.
The participation of this team, which has given demonstrations in various parts of the country and abroad, has been possible because of the initiative by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in personally appealing to the home minister and district in-charge minister Shoba Karandlaje, who met the Air Marshal in Bangalore, Dasara festivities deputy special officer S Palaiah said today.
‘Sarang’ is IAF helicopter formation display team and has demonstrated its air formation skills in India and abroad.
MI-8, Chetak, and Fighters are among other sky vehicles to take part in the 150-minute air show by about 160 IAF members. ‘Chetaks’ will shower petals and MI-8s will demonstrate ‘slithering’ or sliding skills. The thrilling demonstrations will include fly-past after small boy formation, fly-past by Fighters, Suryakiran and Sarangs. The MI-8 Akashganga team will display their sky diving abilities and the Air Warrior drill team a demonstration.
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Added to these, there will be an aero-modelling display by Adarsh, operating his helicopter models with a remote control.
The Dasara air-show is the sixth in series and has been drawing good crowds of locals and residents of roundabout Mysore.
Palaiah said the IAF air machines will land at three places, Mandakalli airport, which received the maiden flight from Bangalore bringing visitors and media men yesterday, helipad, where the chief minister landed in a copter canceling his flight to the modernised Mandakalli Airport from Bangalore, and the Infosys helipad, which recently saw the arrival of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
In view of Indian Air Force’s requirement of Mandakalli airport, the King Fisher Airlines has been requested not to operate its chartered flights to Mysore from Bangalore on September 22 and 24, he said.
King Fisher has launched chartered flights for tourists coming to witness Dasara.
On September 22, the IAF will hold a trial demonstration and present a musical symphony in front of the Palace the next day.
Meanwhile, the celebrations, which were launched by Art of Living Guru Ravishankar yesterday atop Chamundi Hills, a large number of his followers from abroad adding colour to the programme, moved on to the second day today with the inauguration of programmes like ‘Rytha Dasara’ for farmers and ‘Yuva Dasara’, a new age extravaganza for the youth.
While showers upset the arrangements of the cultural programme at the Palace, it played spoilsport for other inaugurals, inconveniencing invitees and guests.