IAF Suryakirans to Enthral Dasara Audience in Mysuru on Oct 18-19, 2026
By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru, Oct 17. The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) iconic Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) is officially set to perform a spectacular aerial display in Mysuru from October 18 to 20, 2026. The air show is a major highlight of the grand Mysuru Dasara 2026 celebrations.
Event Details
Dates: October 18, 19, and 20, 2026
Time: Performance rehearsals and scheduled slots begin from 10:00 AM onwards.
Venue: Bannimantap Grounds (Torchlight Parade Grounds), Mysuru.
What to Expect
Flying nine British-designed, HAL-manufactured Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainers, the elite team will perform highly synchronized close-formation manoeuvres. Spectators can look forward to signature gravity-defying stunts, including:
The Iconic DNA Manoeuvre
Barrel rolls and loops
Inverted (upside-down) flying
Patriotic saffron, white, and green smoke trails painting the Mysuru skies.
The air show was organized following a special request by Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to inspire and encourage local youth to join the armed forces. Alongside the aerial displays, the 2026 Dasara festival will also feature dedicated military tableaux representing all three wings of the Indian Defence Forces.
THE SURYAKIRAN AEROBATIC TEAM (SKAT)
The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) is the premier 9-aircraft aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Known as “The Sharks”, the team operates under the motto “Sadaiva Sarvottama” (Always the Best).
Key Facts
Formation & Base: Formed on May 27, 1996, and based at Air Force Station Bidar in Karnataka as part of the No. 52 Squadron.
Aircraft: Initially flew the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer. After a temporary suspension in 2011, the team was re-established in 2015 and currently flies the BAE Hawk Mk.132 jet trainers.
Milestone: Celebrated its 30th Anniversary on May 26, 2026, having completed over 800 displays.
Signature Style: Maintains an ultra-close formation distance of about 5 meters between jets, and features tricolour smoke trails during modern displays.
Recent 2026 Activity: Kicked off its 2026 display season with shows in Meerut (September 2026) and scheduled events for the IAF’s 94th Anniversary celebrations.
Prerequisites & Experience
Before being considered for selection, pilots must meet strict professional benchmarks within the combat stream:
Fighter Stream Commission: Must be actively commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF.
Seniority: A minimum of 10 years of seniority as a commissioned officer.
Flying Hours: Extensive operational experience, typically requiring around 2,000 hours of fighter flying experience.
Instructional Background: Pilots must be professional-course qualified and serve as Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs).
Selection Process
Pilots are selected twice a year for a highly competitive three-year tour of duty with the team. The team consists of 13 pilots, though only 9 fly in a live display formation at any given time.
Voluntary Induction: Candidates must actively volunteer out of passion for aerobatics.
Commander’s Evaluation: The Commanding Officer (who also serves as the display Formation Leader) puts incoming volunteers through intense flight trials and rigorous tests to judge their reflexes, spatial awareness, and ability to fly in close formation.
The Training Phase
Once a pilot is handpicked to join No. 52 Squadron (“The Sharks”), they a dedicated induction pipeline:
Duration: It takes roughly 6 to 7 months of intensive training to transition an operational fighter pilot into a display-standard aerobatic pilot. This block usually runs from March to September.
Precision Formation Training: Training progresses from simple manoeuvres to ultra-close formation flying, where pilots master keeping a consistent distance of just 3 to 5 meters between the wings of their BAE Hawk Mk.132 jets while pulling high G-forces.
Operational Cycle: A pilot’s three-year tenure is strictly divided—dedicating the first six months purely to learning the routines, and the subsequent months to live public air displays.
The primary public schedules and events featuring the nine-aircraft formation include:
Upcoming 2026 Display Schedule
October 18 – 19, 2026 | Mysuru Dasara Air Show
Venue:Bannimantap Grounds, Mysuru, Karnataka.
Details: The team is scheduled to perform its signature loops, barrel rolls, inverted flying, and the crowd-favourite “DNA manoeuvre” over Mysuru beginning at 10:00 AM, utilizing tricolour smoke trails.
October 25, 2026 | “Wings Over Ganges” Air Show (Varanasi)
Venue: Namo Ghat / Assi Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Details: Scheduled to headline a massive aerial layout alongside combat jets like the Rafale, Tejas, and Su-30MKI to celebrate the Indian Air Force’s 94th Anniversary.
October 31, 2026 | Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
Venue: Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
Details: The team will participate in the Grand Celebration and public flypast marking National Unity Day.
Notable Past 2026 Performances
January 2026: Conducted extensive daily public flying routines at the major Wings India 2026 aviation exhibition at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.
May 26, 2026: Celebrated the team’s 30th Anniversary milestone at their home base, Air Force Station Bidar, where the Chief of the Air Staff flew in formation.
September 2026: Delivered a large-scale public demonstration over the skies of Meerut and briefly paused for localized weather adjustments before scheduled runs in Motihari.
October 2026: Participated in aerial manoeuvres at Jodhpur Air Force Station as part of the multinational exercise Tarang Shakti 2026.
