KOCHI: They are called ‘Sagar Pawan’ or ‘Sea Breeze’. Sometimes even the wind stops blowing while they make formations and take breathtaking manoeuvres in the skies.
The scintillating display by the Sagar Pawan, the aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Navy’s Aviation Arm, certainly stole the heart of the spectators. The team presented a display in Kochi on Thursday as part of the Navy Day celebration.
Formed in 2003, Sagar Pawan team is based at INS Hansa, the Naval Aviation’s hub at Dabolim in Goa, and the team uses indigenous-built Kiran MK-II trainers.
The Kirans, basically jet trainer, is powered by Rolls Royce Orpheus engine with excellent manoeuvrability. The Kirans are built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
“To become a part of the team, the basic quality a pilot needs is aptitude. The pilot had to undergo extra-training,” says Commander Satyen Vartak, leader pilot of the team.
The existing Sagar Pawan team consists of eight pilots. Commander J J Jose, Commander S K Maurya and Commander Yaswant Karkare, Commander S K Kotari, Commander Hemant Salunkhe( Ground control and safety officer), Lt Commander Rahul Nair(assistant port member) and Lt Commander Aditya are the other members of the team