Bangalore cheers Russian Knights

Though the Russian Knights aerobatics team made a spectacular entry raising expectations at the Aero India 2013, the team put up a rather simple yet elegant performance.

The team, whose participation had created a frenzy among aviation enthusiasts, had been delayed by nearly four days due to bad weather after they left Moscow and later ‘legal complications’ on landing in New Delhi.

The team performing with Su-27 aircraft, performed formation flights coupled with flybys, high speed crossovers and individual performances.

In their debut performance, the team performed a simple routine but packed a few surprises as they deployed flares in solo as well as formation flying while on vertical climb. The Knights are not known to use smoke generators.

The team also performed the mirror loop, leaving the audience enthralled. The team had refused to divulge details of their signature manoeuvres and had said that they would like the visitors to see what they had in store when they performed on Saturday.

The number of visitors increased on the fourth day and is expected to go up further on Sunday, when the biennial event concludes.

Other displays included the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter aerobatics team, Sarang and the Czech Republic aircraft Flying bulls. The sig ht of the C-17 Globemaster III from the USA and the recently acquired Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft, Rafale saw shutterbugs click away incessantly. The indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the Light Combat Helicopter flying displays also generated much interest.