Sarang display team
Sarang Indian Air Force Helicopter Display Team | |
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Active | October 2003 to Present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Aerobatic display team |
Size | 14 Officers 32 Airmen |
Garrison/HQ | Sulur Air Force Station Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Wg Cdr Hari Nair, Wg Cdr Shashank Misra, Wg Cdr M Benny Mathews, Wg Cdr Girish Komar |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | ![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Helicopter | 4 - HAL Dhruvs |
Sarang (Sanskrit: सारंग, lit. 'peacock') is the helicopter air display team of the Indian Air Force that flies four modified HAL Dhruv helicopters, also known as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The team was formed in October 2003 and their first performance was at the Asian Aerospace show, Singapore, in 2004.[1] The name Sarang is symbolic; the peacock is the national bird of India. The unit was inducted as No. 151 Helicopter Unit in 2005 and was shifted from Yelahanka AFS, Bangalore to Sulur AFS, Coimbatore in 2009.[2]
Performances[]
![]() | This section does not cite any sources. (April 2020) |
The first displays using the HAL Dhruv aircraft were at Aero India 2003 at Bangalore, led by Sqn Ldr Ajay Pathania. Later in 2003, the Sarang unit was formally organised as a three-helicopter display team. In 2004, the team started performing with four helicopters at the Singapore Air Show in 2004. The team performs regularly at Aero India, a biennial air show held at Yelahanka Air Force Station near Bangalore, and on Air Force Day, the anniversary of the Indian Air Force, at Hindon Air Force Base every 8 October. The unit also performed at Farnborough Airshow in 2008. 2021 Dubai Airshow[3]
Incidents[]
In February 2007, the team had its first fatal accident when a Dhruv crashed at Yelahanka Air Force Station during a rehearsal before Aero India. Co-pilot Squadron Leader Priyesh Sharma was killed instantly and the pilot Wing Commander Vikas Jaitley received serious head injuries.[4]
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ ILA 2008: Proud as Peacocks
- ^ "'Sarang' team bids adieu to Yelahanka Air Force Station". 25 September 2009.
- ^ "Dubai Airshow: IAF's Sarang team, Tejas aircraft showcase flying skills on opening day".
- ^ "Dhruv crashed". The Hindu. 2007-02-03. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sarang. |
- Sarang video
- Sarang at the Asian Aerospace Show, 2004
- Indian peacocks strut their stuff, Aviation International News
- Image of Sarang helicopter
- Aero-India 2007, Sarang Helicopter Display Team, www.Bharat-Rakshak.com
- Aerobatics Aero-India 2007
- Government of India - Press Information Breau release
- "The Hindu" newspaper article: Sarang's aerial ballet
- Indian Air Force
- Aerobatic teams
- Aviation stubs