`Mother’ of all Defence displays

Compared to the staid ten-minute display at the Republic Day parade in Delhi, this one promises to be the mother of all air displays. “We have very formal flypasts in Delhi,” Air Marshal S Krishnaswamy, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Air Command, told mediapersons on Monday. Representing the navy at the press conference was Rear Admiral SCS Bangara, Flag Officer Maharashtra Area and Brigadier PK Chakravarti, Deputy GOC, Headquarters Maharashtra and Gujarat Area.

Hurtling past 200 metres above the sea will be 51 aircraft, including Su-30s, MiG-21s,Mig 27s, Jaguars, Sea Harrier fighters, IL-76 heavy lift aircraft, Dornier turbo-props, Kiran aerobatic jets, Mi-8, Kamov, Seaking and Chetak helicopters.

This spectacular display, part of the 50th independence day celebrations, being organised by the three defence services along with Oberoi Hotels, is only the cherry on the cake. On Friday and Saturday, the Andheri Sports complex will be turned into a vast exhibition ground showcasing the country’s military might. Indian Army’s commandos will leap out of aircraft in the skies and parachute into the stadium. On display will be fire power like T-72 battle tanks, heavy and medium guns and armoured personnel carriers of the Indian army, Gemini boats of the naval commandos, air defense radars, surface to air missiles and aircraft ordinance. All this points to a rather direct recruitment drive by the forces to woo boys with dreams of flying planes and driving tanks. But the organisers disagree.

“We’re not running a recruitment campaign,” Air MarshalKrishnaswamy clarifies. But if somebody says they want to join, we’ll certainly help them out, he adds. Information on how to join the services will be provided at the sports complex.

The highlight of Sunday’s airshow includes a spectacular display of formation aerobatics by the IAF’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team. But the star will undoubtably be the Sukhoi-30, on its maiden visit to the city. This heavy fighter can carry 8 tonnes of weapons under its wings, the weight of a MiG-21 fighter! The show will sign off with a solo SU-30 doing among other aerobatics, a `vertical Charlie’.

The last such air show conducted in Mumbai was in 1959, where the IAF showed off its latest acquisition, the Gnat fighter and Indian Airlines its Boeing 777. Air Marshal Krishnaswamy says such shows are a rarity in the city only because flying fighter aircraft over heavily built-up cities is a challenge. And of course the heavy commercial aircraft movement in the city. But that’s been sorted out with clearance from the ministry ofCivil Aviation.