IAF’s 85th Anniversary Today: Akash Ganga, SKAT Team to Display Scintillating Aerobatic Show

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will celebrate its 85th anniversary on Sunday, October 8. The celebrations would be marked by a stellar show in the skies by various aircraft at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad.

The air display will commence at 8 AM with flag bearing skydivers of famous AKASH GANGA Team dropping out of AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies. The rehearsals of air display began on October 1. IAF’s popular Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) will also perform today. The SKAT belong to the number 52 Squadron. The primary role of the team was air defence, whereas its secondary role was ground attack.

“The flypast would include the vintage aircraft, along with modern transport aircraft and fighter aircraft. The ceremony will conclude at 10.51 AM with a scintillating aerobatic display,” IAF had earlier said in a statement.

Notably, the IAF fleet would be flying at low levels in areas surrounding Karwalnagar, Wazirpur bridge, Shamli, Afjalpur – Hindan, Jiwana, Hapur – Philkua and Chandinagar- Hindan.

Here is the full schedule of the IAF Day Celebrations:

08:00 AM – Akash Ganga Drop

08:28 AM – Band march

08:34 AM – Parade march

08:39 AM – IAF Colour march

09:00 AM – General Salute to CAS (Ensign Flypast Mi 17)

09:09 AM – Chakra formation flypast

09:16 AM – Investiture Ceremony and present of CAS Citations

09:38 AM – Address by CAS

09:56 AM – Parade marches off

09:56 AM – Airwarrior Drill Team Display

10:10 AM – Air Display

Ahead, of the air display, the IAF has requested the residents of Delhi-NCR to not to throw garbage/eatables on the roads as it attracts birds, which poses a safety threat to the flying aircraft. “If you find any dead animal on the ground please report it to the IAF unit of the nearest police station to arrange for disposal, ” the statement read.

Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8, 1932 with a mission to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.