Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army will stage a 28-aircraft flypast, including a special manoeuvre by a frontline Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jet, during the Jan 26 Republic Day parade here. The flying display will including 13 fighters such as Jaguars and MiG-29s, apart from the Su-30s and 10 helicopters including the Mi-25 attack helicopters and indigenous Dhruv advanced light helicopters.

A Sukhoi SU-30 will carry out its spell-binding signature “Vertical Charlie” manoeuvre - pulling up into the wild blue yonder - at the end of the flypast.

The aircraft — both fixed and rotary wing — would fly out of five air bases in and around the capital including Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Ambala in Haryana and Hindon in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Apart from the 25 IAF aircraft, there will be three Army Aviation Corps helicopters also participating in the flypast.

The flypast will be in two phases - at the start of the parade by helicopters trailing the national tri-color and the ensigns of the three services.

The second phase will be at the end of the parade with two formations comprising Mi-25 attack helicopters and a transport aircraft formation of IL-78 tankers, AN-32s and Dorniers.

“These will be followed by fighter jets such as Jaguars, Mig-29s and Su-30s. A vertical charlie manoeuvre by a single Su-30 MKI spiralling upwards will signal the close of the proceedings,” IAF Assistant Chief (Space) Air Vice Marshal M. Matheswaran told reporters here.

However, if weather plays spoilsport, the aerial display may be “partially or fully” cancelled, though in the last two decades there have been only a few occasions when the flypast has been scaled down, he said.

The aerial show will be matched by 144 air warriors and 72 musicians of Air Force Band, who will form the IAF marching contingent on Rajpath.