Aero India 2019: What makes these eight jets so impressive
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B 52 — The bomberman
An aircraft that strikes one’s attention is the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, an American long-range, subsonic, jetpowered strategic bomber. It is capable of carrying up to 32,000 kg of weapons and has a typical combat range of more than 14,080 km without aerial refuelling. A veteran of several wars including the Vietnam and Gulf wars, the aircraft is still in service, despite the presence of more advanced aircraft, thanks to its superior performance and relatively low operating costs.
Manufacturer: Boeing
Year of origin: 1952
It is expected to continue to serve even in 2050s.
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Sukhoi SU-30MKI — The backbone
Among the most versatile aircraft, the Bengaluru-made Russian jets can perform complex manoeuvres under pilot control. The IAF’s staple warhorse, the Sukhoi has been used by the IAF since 2002 and is expected to form its backbone for the years to come.
Aircraft type: Multirole airsuperiority fighter
Country of origin: Russia
Year of origin: 2002
Unit cost: Rs 358 crore in 2014
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Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) — The Showmen
Conspicuous by its absence at the Aero Show, SKAT is an aerobatics (coined from aerial-acrobatics) demonstration team of 13 pilots who carry out complex, visually appealing manoeuvres with turns, loops, barrel rolls and inverted runs. After the team lost one of its star pilots in an accident during the rehearsals, three IAF aircraft — Tejas, Su-30 MKI and the Jaguar — flew a ‘missing man formation’. The formation is usually done at the funerals of pilots as a tribute.
Aircraft currently used: Hawk MK 132
Aircraft type: Advanced jet trainer (AJT)
Country of origin of aircraft: England
Year of team formation: 1996
Base: Bidar, Karnataka
No of aircraft: 9
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Sarang Display Team — The Peacocks
A befitting complement to the Surya Kiran team, Sarang is IAF’s helicopter display team. Their displays are characterised by four striking, peacockthemed choppers that perform a variety of manoeuvres, enhanced by the thick smoke trailing the choppers. Sarang’s moves get a lot of appreciation from the spectators.
Aircraft used: HAL Dhruv
Aircraft type: Utility helicopter
Base: Sulur Air Force Station, near Coimbatore
Year of team formation: 2003
Unit cost: Rs 40 crore
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ALH (MK IV) Rudra — Lethal weapon
The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Rudra is the first real armed helicopter being produced indigenously in India. Post-Kargil war, there was a need for helicopters capable of delivering a lethal punch at the demanding altitudes and environs of the Siachen glacier.
The HAL rose to the challenge and manufactured ALH Rudra in record time. With its weapon system integrated feature, the machine is a modified version of ALH Dhruv. The helicopter was displayed for the first time at the 2013 Aero India show.
Aircraft type: Advanced light helicopter (ALH)
Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Year of origin: 2013
ET Bureau
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Dakota DC-3 — The vintage
From old, trusted warhorses like the Dakota and B-52 to the more modern machines like the Rafale and Tejas to aerobatic display teams pulling off stunning manoeuvres — the ongoing Aero India is as stellar as ever.
ET takes a look at the history and origin of these jets and finds out what makes them so impressive. Dakota DC-3 — The vintage The aircraft that catches one’s attention at the aerial display is the vintage Douglas DC-3, rechristened as Parashurama. An Indian military aircraft, Dakota was at the forefront of operations from 1947 to 1971 and played a pivotal role in the 1947-48 India-Pakistan war.
The old workhorse was fully restored to its original glory in 2018 and it is now part of Bengaluru’s aero show. Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar got the aircraft from scrap in 2011 and restored it to flying condition in UK before gifting it to the IAF.
1944: It was inducted into IAF as the first major transport aircraft.
ET Bureau
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LCA Tejas — The fighter
Able to climb fast and carry out different manoeuvres, the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas performs stunts that are a must watch. The single-engine, lightweight, highly-agile and multi-role supersonic fighter is a realisation of India’s over 30-year-old dream for an indigenous model combat aircraft. The LCA Tejas is able to perform air-to-ground attacks, air-to-air refuelling and dispense weapons on the targets. Its ability to turn with a short radius makes it a formidable flying machine.
Aircraft type: Multirole light fighter
Unit cost: Rs 162 crore
Designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Agency with HAL as the principal partner.
