Wings Over Ganges: IAF Air Show at Varanasi’s Namo Ghat Begins
Image: PIB
The Indian Air Force begins its “Wings Over Ganges” aerial display at Namo Ghat in Varanasi on Thursday, 22 October, to mark its 94th anniversary. Central Air Command, which is organising the show, has listed display days on 22, 24 and 25 October; some reports give the run as 22 to 25 October. The Namo Ghat stand is the VIP enclosure, and the public can watch from designated viewing areas along the river.
Where to Watch and What to Expect
Central Air Command said traffic, parking and entry arrangements will be issued separately through official channels, and asked the public to follow the civil administration’s instructions. It also said the Prime Minister is likely to attend, subject to final confirmation.
The IAF’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team will fly nine Hawk Mk 132 jets, with loops, barrel rolls, inverted flying and its “DNA” manoeuvre, trailing saffron, white and green smoke, according to Free Press Journal. The Sarang helicopter team will also fly. Reports list Tejas, LCH Prachand, Su-30MKI, Rafale, C-295, AN-32, IL-76 and IL-78 aircraft, along with Navy and Army aircraft.
Eighth of October Parade Came First
The IAF was formed on 8 October 1932. This year’s ground parade was held at Hindan air base in Ghaziabad on 8 October, where Air Chief Marshal A P Singh spoke and a British-era Tiger Moth flew aerobatics. The anniversary display moves to a different city each year; last year’s was held over the Brahmaputra at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati.
The Surya Kiran team was set up in 1996 and has flown more than 850 displays in India and abroad. The IAF says the shows are meant to build public awareness and draw young people towards careers in aviation.
Days Still to Come
The main flypast is reported for 25 October. Daily timings and the aircraft schedule for each day had not been published at the time of writing. For other defence updates, see the Army Land Warfare Doctrine release and the Daily Updates section.
Source: Based on reporting by Devdiscourse (ANI), Devdiscourse, Free Press Journal and ThePrint (PTI).
Image: PIB.
