IAF's Sarangs ready for sky ballet | Look out for the new 'India formation' at Aero India

All photos: IAF

The IAF’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team is one of the only

two operational chopper display units in the world. This time at

air show, they are unveiling the ‘India’ formation to touch your

hearts, says Anantha Krishnan M. A City Express special.

The peacocks are here. And, they are ready to perform the sky ballet. At the Yelahanka Air Force station they have begun the rigorous practice sessions twice a day. Then the debriefing, corrections, suggestions and finally by night fall, like the birds flocking together, they sit around the dining table for more plane talk.

Meet the Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF), who share a very emotional bonding with Bangalore. It was from here they evolved as one of the finest aerobatic copper display units in the world. After their field evaluation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-built the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, the team was tasked with the role of formation display flying to showcase the capability of Dhruv, way back in 2002. Since their official formation in 2004, the Sarangs have won the hearts of millions around the world. Their routine: Fly to thrill and even kissing danger at times.

Today they are an integral part of IAF’s 151 HU based out of Sulur Air Force Station in Coimbatore. So far, the team has performed over 35 air shows in India and abroad. In attendance at Aero India since 2003, the Sarang team is now led by Wg Cdr R C Pathak, who plays the role of the Commanding Officer. He is assisted by Wg Cdr Vinod Negi, the deputy team leader. The other members are: Wg Cdr Shailendra Pandey, Sqn Ldr Mudit Chaurasia, Sqn Ldr S Saravanavel, Sqn Ldr P R Ponnappa, Sqn Ldr Anil Yadav, Sqn Ldr S Jamkar, Sqn Ldr Abhijeet Kumar, Sqn Ldr Gurpreet Singh, Sqn Ldr Bhushan Rao, Flt Lt S K Singh.

Flt Lt Niket Tiwari, the latest entrant, keeps a watchful eye on the team every time it performs as its safety officer. Sqn Ldr P S Karthik is the senior engineering officer of the team. He along with Flt Lt Priyanshu Mukherji, Flt Lt Bharat Bajaj, Flt Lt Vijay Karthik, Flt Lt Gurjeet Singh and the other professional and qualified air warriors of the team keep the machines flying fit for such arduous profiles. Wg Cdr Bhavana Mehra is the team administrator and does the commentary for the displays.

“The team has the unique distinction of being one of the only two operational helicopter display team in the world, the other being ‘Blue Eagles’ of the British Army,” says one of the team member. “The ‘India’ formation was part of our profile for during Berlin Air Show in 2008. We couldn’t do it during Aero India last time, because we were doing the reverse flight profile instead of formation flying as a warm up to aerobatics,” says one of team members.

Flt Lt S K Singh is the youngest in the group. This 28-year-old braveheart from Bihar, now occupies the display pilot seat (co-piloting). Wg Cdr R C Pathak, the team leader, is the senior pro in the group. Hailing from Nagpur, the 38-year-old daredevil, is a qualified flying instructor and rotary wing Test Pilot.

“Six pilots in the team are performing for the first time at Aero India. We are happy to fly the Dhruvs -- India's pride. The matured Dhruv is a small step for HAL, but a giant leap for India’s aviation sector,” says another Sarang pilot. The team says that the appreciations they got from Al Ain Grand Prix at UAE and the Berlin Air Show are cherished forever. “We were adjudged as the best-looking close formation team,” says a Sarang pilot.

Over to Yelahanka. The place you have to be now.

Copyright@City Express

WHAT’S IN STORE: The new profile, which the Sarang flies these days, begins with entry in ‘Inverted Wine Glass’ formation. The formation then changes over to Line Astern formation or ‘India’ as it is popularly called, and Diamond formation to facilitate the viewers to get a closer look at the Helicopters. Sarang 1, 2 and 3 then turn together to perform the star manoeuvre which is unique to helicopter flying – ‘The Stall Turn’ known as the ‘Dolphin’s Leap’.

The team then continually keeps the audience glued to the skies with their breathtaking manoeuvres. The next is the hear-stopping ‘Crossover Break’, followed by the ‘Arrow’. After another set of exciting manoeuvres the team then regroups for its final signature manoeuvre ‘the Sarang Split,’ in which the four helicopter cross each other vertically and horizontally to form a knot. (The inputs for WHAT'S IN STORE taken from Sarang's team brochure.)

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IAF@79: Sarangs on a song again!

By Sarang Publicity Wing

The ‘Sarang’ Helicopter Display Team has evolved from erstwhile ALH Evaluation Flight (AEF) formed at Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE) on 18 March 2002. After completion of the initial task of field evaluation of the ‘Advanced Light Helicopter’ (ALH), the unit was tasked with role of formation display flying to showcase the capability of the indigenously manufactured ALH and as ambassadors of the Indian Air Force.

The Team ‘Sarang’ has been derived from the Sanskrit meaning ‘Peacock’, the Indian National bird. It attempts to symbolise the beauty and grace of the peacock, during the display. The helicopters have been painted in bright colours with the peacock form superimposed on them. The team was amalgamated with the resurrected 151 HU in Jun 2004 and accorded a status of full fledged helicopter unit.

The Team made its debut performance at the Asian Aerospace Air show at Singapore in Feb 2004. Since then, the Team has performed in 35 various air shows in India as well as abroad. The Team’s performance at Al Ain Aerobatic Show, UAE in Jan 05 earned it a reputation as one of the best display team in the world. Since its first display; the Team has carried out numerous displays in India and Abroad. The team participated in the Berlin air show in May 2008 where it was adjudged as the best looking close formation team.

The team made history after five helicopters of Indian Air Force ferried across the English Channel from Germany to the United Kingdom. In the year 2011, the team has participated in the Bangalore Air Show, passing out parades for NDA and AF Academy.

The Sarang Team is led by its Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Manjeet Singh Sidhu, VM. Wing Commander SK Shivrain is the Deputy team leader. The other team members are Wing Commander Nikhil Naidu, Wing Commander Kunal Girme, Wing Commander Vinod Negi, Squadron Leader Prabhat Shukla, Squadron Leader Sameet Bhopi, Squadron Leader V Manoj, Squadron Leader Anil Yadav, Squadron Leader SK Mishra, Squadron Leader Rahul Sharma and Squadron Leader Sumedh Jamkar. Squadron Leader Rahul Sharma is the latest entrant to the team and has the onerous and difficult task of keeping a watchful eye on the team every time it performs as its safety officer. Squadron Leader Siddharth Kumar is the Senior Engineering officer of the team. He along with Flight Lieutenant Priyanshu Mukherji, Flight Lieutenant Bharat Bajaj and the other professional and qualified air warriors of the team keep the machines flying fit for such arduous profiles. Flight Lieutenant Praveen Kumar, does the commentary for the displays with his deep baritone voice.

The ‘Sarang’ Team has earned a name for itself as a professional display team in a short span of time. It has the unique distinction of being one of only two operational helicopter display team in the world, the other being ‘Blue Eagles’ of the British Army. The Team continuously strives to modify and perform new profiles for each display. It strives toward achieving greater perfection and professionalism. While it is natural to expect daring and precise formation displays by fixed wing aircraft, it is difficult for helicopters to perform similar manoeuvres owing to the inherent instability and large and unwieldy rotors. This is what makes the ‘Sarang Display Team’ so special and unique.

NEW ACT: The new profile, which the Sarang flies these days, begins with entry in diamond formation with the No.1 flying backwards. The lead helicopter thereafter does a reverse flare and hovers momentarily before diving for a salute to the audience. The leader then flies through a formation of three helicopters while demonstrating the reverse flying capability of the ALH. The first three helicopters then group together to perform the star manoeuvre which is unique to helicopter flying – the stall turn known as the ‘Dolphin’s Leap’. The team then continually keeps the audience glued to the skies with their breathtaking manoeuvres. The next is the hearstopping ‘Crossover Break’, followed by the ‘Arrow’.

Another addition to the profile has been incorporated recently are the wingovers followed by two aircraft pair manoeuvring where in two aircraft face each other on the Runway and turn about each other describing a circle on ground. The team then regroups for its final signature manoeuvre ‘The Sarang Split ’ in which the four heicopter cross each other vertically and horizontally to form a knot.

The team strives to give the best to the audience and is ever hopeful that with their display, it is able to capture the hearts of the audience and enthrall them.

(This article is hosted on the blog without editing.)