Over 1 lakh watch Suryakiran Aerobatic Team’s debut air display in Meerut
Meerut, Sep 21. More than one lakh spectators, including students, NCC cadets and NSS volunteers, gathered to witness the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) make its maiden appearance over Meerut.
The nine-aircraft team performed a series of precision aerobatic manoeuvres over the city on September 19 and 20, drawing large crowds with its display of flying skills, coordination and discipline. The performance was particularly significant for Meerut as three members of the SKAT team, including two pilots who took part in the aerobatic display, hail from the city.
Minister of Stat for Defence Sanjay Seth witnessed the display on September 20 and described it as a demonstration of discipline, precision, teamwork and professionalism that reflected the capabilities of the Indian Air Force.
Seth also highlighted SKAT’s three-decade journey, noting that the team has performed at more than 800 air shows in India and abroad since its establishment in 1996.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who commented on the display on the first day, praised the precision and courage of the SKAT pilots. He said the team’s manoeuvres, including the use of the colours of the national flag, provided a moment of pride and inspiration for Uttar Pradesh and the country.
Among other dignitaries who attended the event were Rajya Sabha MP Laxmikant Bajpai, Uttar Pradesh Minister of State Somendra Tomar and Members of the Legislative Council Ashwini Tyagi and Dharmendra Bhardwaj.
Nine Hawk aircraft paint Meerut skies
The Meerut display came after SKAT successfully completed its 2026 training season. The team flew its distinctive formation of nine red-and-white Hawk Mk 132 aircraft, which are licence-manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The aerobatic routine featured a range of demanding manoeuvres, including loops, barrel rolls, inverted flying and the team’s signature DNA manoeuvre. The displays require the pilots to maintain precise formations and close coordination throughout the flight.
The aircraft operate at extremely close distances of less than five metres from each other during some manoeuvres, making the performances a demanding demonstration of flying skill, discipline and mutual trust among the pilots.
The Hawk aircraft have also been equipped with an indigenous smoke-generation system that allows the team to create coloured trails in saffron, white and green. The modification, developed at the Indian Air Force’s Base Repair Depot in Nashik, enables SKAT to depict the colours of the national flag during its aerial displays.
SKAT: IAF’s ambassadors in the skies
Established in 1996, SKAT is described by the IAF as Asia’s only nine-aircraft aerobatic team and one of the few formations of its kind in the world.
Over the past three decades, the team has conducted more than 800 displays across India and represented the IAF at international air shows in countries including China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and the Unitd Arab Emirates (UAE).
Beyond its role as an aerobatic formation, SKAT serves as an ambassador of the IAF, showcasing the service’s emphasis on precision, discipline, teamwork and professionalism.
Its performances also seek to inspire young people to consider careers in the armed forces by providing audiences with a first-hand view of the skills, dedication and operational ethos associated with military aviation.
