CUTTACK: ‘Akash Ganga' paratroopers, advance light helicopter (ALH) formations by Sarang team and Surya Kiran aerobatic teams enthralled the people with their daredevil peacetime adventure sports over Cuttack skyline on Friday.
The air show was held here to commemorate the birth centenary of former chief minister Biju Patnaik, who was known for his successful adventurism with the flying machine.
Governor Dr S C Jamir and chief minister Naveen Patnaik witnessed the performances of the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots who left nearly four lakh people mesmerised with their breathtaking aerobatic skills.
The airshow started at about 10.45 AM with the formations of six advance light helicopters by the ‘Sarang’ team followed by aerobatics of ten fighter jets by ‘Surya Kiran’ sky divers over the vast stretch of Kathajodi river bed.
Finally, it was the turn of ‘Akash Ganga’ paratroopers to wind up the one hour-long show with their famous tri-colour formation that enthralled the spectators.
Nearly 100 pilots, officials of Sarang, Surya Kiran and Akash Ganga aerobatics teams of IAF participated in the daredevil show. During the airshow, HAWK aircraft were used for Surya Kiran, ALH for Sarang and Mi-17/Mi-18 aircraft for Akash Ganga display.
“It was a rare visual treat. Last time when it was held in 2010, I had missed it. I was waiting for the airshow with baited breath since then. My salute to the sky divers who displayed their splendid acts,” said a spectator Abinash Mohapatra.
While schools and colleges at Cuttack remained closed for enabling the students to watch the grand event, security arrangement was tightened and 40 platoons of police force were deployed across the city.