On wings of eagles

MUMBAI, June 11: They are called Surya Kirans' rays of the sun and that is exactly what they look like as they zoom across the sky. Paint...

MUMBAI, June 11: They are called Surya Kirans8217; rays of the sun and that is exactly what they look like as they zoom across the sky. Painted a prominent orange, they form the impressive aerobatics team of the Indian Air Force, which often comes to our city, sometimes to perform at the Passing Out Parade at NDA, or when we have illustrious visitors like the Prime Minister or the Defence Minister.

These six sleek aircraft come shrieking in from behind in the Double Arrow8217; formation. Slowly, and sans any apparent effort, they re-align themselves into a Shock-wave8217; formation, shaped like a bow. As the audience watches spellbound, the aircraft loop and roll and position themselves like an inverted wine glass. It8217;s now time for some more somersaults in the air, and they form up in threes. Saffron, white and green smoke billows out from the tails to shape a giant tri-coloured flag in the heavens. The colours are formed by mixing a special imported dye, with diesel. These are stored in separate tanks; released by the touch of a button. The show over, they break up 8211; but in style. This manoeuvre is called the Vix and Break8217; as three aircraft split on each side and disappear into the distant horizon.The men behind the controls are, as they say, 8220;not any elite group but a representative cross-section of pilots of the IAF.8221; Heading this team is Wing Commander Anil Murgai. In his soft voice and unhurried manner, he gives a brief history of this aerobatic team which compares favourably with the best in the world, the Red Arrows of UK. Incidentally, Murgai has also honed his aerobatic skills with the Red Arrows.

It was in September 1996 that he was given the responsibility of raising this unit at Bidar, Karnataka. 8220;In the beginning, there were just two of us but now we are six. The team comprises 11 pilots and technical officers and 50 technicians.

8220;We have flown many times for example, at the Red Fort on Independence Day last year, but the most memorable display was at Mumbai last month. We flew over Marine Drive, past the Chowpatty area, with the Oberoi and Raj Bhavan in front and the vast sea as a background. We were overwhelmed by the crowds and their enthusiasm.8221;

Most of these pilots are originally trained on other aircraft. Murgai himself is a MiG pilot. Doing formation flying with aerobatics requires a different sort of skill altogether. 8220;For one, it is low-level flying and requires utmost concentration and discipline. The distance maintained between the wingtips is a mere five metres. Since the wing-span is 10 ms long, this distance is termed half a wing span.8217; Markers on the wings help the fliers keep their aircraft in proper alignment. At every stage, the distance has to be precise, otherwise the asymmetry is immediately visible from the ground,8221; explains Murgai.

8220;We have to work as a close-knit team. During the show, the pilot is not monitoring his machine. He has to keep his eyes on the leader. If the leader makes a mistake, the rest can8217;t pull out in time.8221; This causes a lot of stress but it is part of their training. For their aerial acrobatics, they chose the Kiran, a trainer aircraft, because of its slower speed of 00 to 600 kms per hour, which allows greater manoeuvrability.

Dashing and debonair these fliers may be, but rash and reckless they aren8217;t. Flying these machines requires cool judgement, a steady hand and nerves of steel. And these daring young men in their flying machines certainly possess these.