Over one lakh spectators witness spectacular aerial display over two days.
The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force made its debut over Meerut on September 19 and 20, 2026, drawing more than one lakh spectators who gathered to witness its spectacular aerial performances.
The two-day display attracted students, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers and aviation enthusiasts. Adding a special local connection, three members of the SKAT team, including two pilots who took part in the aerobatic display, hail from Meerut.
The September 20 show was witnessed by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, who described the performance as a remarkable showcase of discipline, precision, teamwork and professionalism. He also commended the courage and dedication of the SKAT team, which has completed more than 800 airshows in India and abroad during its three-decade journey.
On the first day of the display, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath praised the SKAT pilots for their precision and courage, noting how they painted the sky in the colours of the Tricolour. He described the event as a proud and inspiring moment for Uttar Pradesh and the nation.
Among the other dignitaries present were Rajya Sabha MP Dr Laxmikant Bajpai, Uttar Pradesh Minister of State Shri Somendra Tomar, and Members of the Legislative Council Shri Ashwini Tyagi and Shri Dharmendra Bhardwaj.
A Spectacular Display Over Meerut:
Following the successful completion of its 2026 training season, SKAT presented its latest formation to the people of Meerut. Flying nine distinctive red-and-white Hawk Mk 132 aircraft, licence-manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the team executed a series of demanding aerobatic manoeuvres.
The display featured loops, barrel rolls, inverted flying and the iconic DNA manoeuvre, demonstrating the pilots’ exceptional precision, coordination and flying skills.
The aircraft operated in extremely close formation, maintaining a distance of less than five metres from one another. Each manoeuvre highlighted the discipline, concentration and mutual trust required to execute such complex aerial formations.
The display was further enhanced by an indigenous modification to the Hawk Mk 132 aircraft involving the integration of coloured smoke pods. Developed in India at the Indian Air Force’s Base Repair Depot in Nashik, the system enables the aircraft to produce saffron, white and green smoke, allowing the team to paint the sky in the colours of the national flag.
Three Decades of Suryakiran:
Established in 1996, Suryakiran is the only nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia and among the few such teams in the world. Over the years, the team has conducted more than 800 displays across India and represented the professionalism of the Indian Air Force at international air shows in countries including China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and the UAE.
More than an aerobatic team, Suryakiran serves as an “Ambassador of the Indian Air Force”, carrying the Service’s spirit and values wherever it performs.
Through its spectacular displays, the team showcases the Indian Air Force’s legacy of precision, discipline, professionalism and dedication, while inspiring young people to consider careers in the Defence Forces and experience these values firsthand.
