Varanasi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will put 100 aircraft in the sky over Varanasi in a three-day air show on the Ganga, with the main display on October 25. The prime minister, Narendra Modi, will attend the programme.
The fleet consists of 52 fighters, 32 helicopters, 15 transport aircraft and one heritage plane. They will fly in from 12 airbases across the country, the farthest being the naval base at Arakkonam, near Chennai.
Called ‘Wings Over Ganges’, the show will be held at Namo Ghat to mark 94 years of the IAF. The aircraft, among them the Rafale, Sukhoi, Tejas, Apache and Chinook, will fly in 25 formations over the river.
The Surya Kiran aerobatic team and the Sarang helicopter display team will also perform, along with the indigenous Tejas and Prachand.
Air Vice Marshal PVS Narayana said the show has two objectives. The first is public outreach, which the IAF carries out every year at different places, to help people understand how the force operates and what technology it uses. The second is to encourage young people to join the armed forces – the Air Force, the Army or the Navy.
Background
The IAF was raised on October 8, 1932, and marks the anniversary each year as Air Force Day. The Varanasi show is the first IAF air show over the Ganga in the city's history.
The Sarang team, set up in 2003, will fly five indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv helicopters at Namo Ghat. Earlier reports said the Surya Kiran jets would take off from Varanasi airport, while other aircraft would fly from nearby districts.
Large crowds are expected. Estimates for the three days range from 20 lakh to 30 lakh visitors.
To reduce the risk of bird strikes, Varanasi has banned the sale and slaughter of meat, fish and poultry within 30 km of the venue from October 19. Reports also said the Rajghat bridge and boat services on the Ganga would stay closed during the performances.
