IN PHOTOS: Republic Day flypast rehearsal by the Indian Air Force

Ahead of the 70th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, Republic accessed some photos from the Flypast Reharsal by the Indian Air Force.

The flypast now comprises 33 aircraft of the Indian Air Force and four helicopters of the Indian Army’s aviation arm. The aircraft types include 18 fighters, eight transport aircraft and 11 helicopters. The flypast will be conducted in two phases. Leading the parade would be the ‘Ensign’ formation comprising four Mi-17 V5 helicopters in an inverted ‘Y’ formation also referred to as the "Wineglass formation". They will fly past, trooping the National flag and the ensigns of the three services.

They will be followed by ‘Dhruv’ formation comprising four Advanced Light Helicopters of the Army Aviation including two armed ALH- Rudra. The second and the main phase will commence after the end of the surface parade immediately after the Dare Devil display. This will be led by ‘Rudra’ formation of three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters of IAF in ‘vic’ formation, followed by three C-130J Super Hercules ac in ‘vic’ formation. Thereafter, a new formation of ‘Sutlej’, comprising of three An-32 ac with lead aircraft using Biojet Fuel blend will be flown followed by mixed formation comprising a single AEW&C flanked by two Su-30s called ‘Netra’. Thereafter, another mixed formation of C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s in vic formation called Globe formation will fly past the dais. This will be followed by pure fighter formations.

The first fighter formation is Jaguar formation consisting of five Jaguar aircraft in arrowhead formation. This is followed by five Mig-29 Upgrade ac ia n similar formation, with call sign ‘Fulcrum’. Subsequently, ‘Sukhoi’ formation comprising three SU-30 MKI aircraft, will execute the famous Trishul manoeuvre. In this, the lead Su-30 would execute a vertical manoeuver on reaching in front of the dais while the flanking ac would split outwards forming a Trident. The end of the parade will be marked by a single SU-30 MKI ac of the IAF, carrying out the signature ‘Vertical Charlie’ in front of the dais. All aircraft will fly-in from the Rashtrapati Bhawan side and exit towards the India Gate at heights between 60 metres to 300 metres above ground level. 

India’s quest to seek alternate sources of fuel towards reducing its dependence on crude oil will now be showcased by the next formation of An 32 aircraft flying in ‘vic’ formation. The lead aircraft of the formation, piloted by Sqn Ldr Mehtab Sond of the Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment, is flying utilizing Aviation Turbine Fuel blended with 10% BioFuel.

This BioFuel has been extracted from Jatropha plant seeds using a technology patented by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun. The successful trials will lead to significant reduction on India’s dependency on imported crude oil. IAF’s initiative is on line with the Prime Minister’s vision to reduce crude oil imports and dependency to the tune of 10% by 2021. The other two ac are captained by Sqn Ldr Gautam Bajaj and Wg Cdr Arun Chandan.

This year, President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa will be attending the Republic Day commemoration as the Chief Guest. President Ramaphosa accepted the invitation initiated by PM Modi on the sidelines of G20 Buenos Aires Summit in Argentina in 2018. 

(The photos are credited to Wg CDR Indranil Nandi)