HINDON (Ghaziabad): The disbanded nine aircraft Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force will once again take to the skies in another three years with British Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs).
"This year, we had to take the painful decision of disbanding the nine aircraft SKAT. But we owe it to the nation to resurrect the team again and I assure you that in three years, the team will rise again in national colours on the Hawk AJT," Air Chief marshal N A K Browne said here addressing the 79th Air Force day parade here.
He said in their new machines, the Surya Kirans will "rise over the skies in Hindon and perform across the length and breadth of India."
The SKAT, which was formed in 1996 with HJT-16 aircraft, is now being used for training of pilots and therefore could not be there for the aerial display this year at the Hindon air base.
The team was formed to serve as the "Ambassadors of the IAF" and to "showcase the professionalism, the calibre and the mettle of the Indian Air Force".
The aircraft of the team have been provided for training the rookie pilots for the basic and intermediate stage of their syllabus in absence of the HPT-32 basic trainers which have been grounded for the last two years now.
At successive IAF day parades on October 8, the SKAT team was the last to perform its aerobatic skills.
No comments:
Post a Comment