Surya Kiran - History

History

The genesis of the 'Suryakiran Aerobatic Team' (SKAT) can be traced back to 1982, the golden jubilee year of the Indian Air Force, when 'The Thunderbolts', a nine aircraft aerobatic team was formed. The team flew Hawker Hunter aircraft (Also flown by 'The Black Arrows' of the Royal Air Force). The Thunderbolts gave their last public display in 1989. In 1990, the Hunters were phased out and replaced by HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 aircraft.

In early 1996, serious planning began for Aero India-96, the first major air show and aviation trade event ever hosted in India. The organisers' initial intentions were to invite an aerobatic team from overseas. However, senior IAF officers were confident that the IAF would be able to field its own team. Thus, the Suryakiran team was formed in 1996 as a 6-aircraft team, with Wg Cdr Kuldeep Malik VM, VSM, a former Thunderbolts member, as the first team leader. They gave their first display during the first Aero India in 1996. By 1997, the Suryakiran team had been expanded to 9 aircraft. The other Commanding Officers and Team Leaders of Suryakiran till date have been Wing Commander (late) AK Murgai VM, Wing Commander Amit Tiwari VM, Wing Commander S Prabahkaran VM, Wing Commander Sandeep Bansal VM, Wing Commander JT Kurien and Wing Commander Prajual Singh.

The task of modifying this aircraft was given to 5 Base Repair Depot, Air Force, located at Sulur, a place near Coimbatore in March 1996. The in-board drop tanks are used for storage of oil Lubrex22/Diesel with die and with a system of pipelines and in line booster pump, valve the oil or diesel is pumped in to the engine exhaust. The design, development of this modification and later on approval by RCMA (Regional Center for Military Airworthiness), the regulatory body of Govt of India, was done in house at 5 BRD, AF without any help from any external agency. These aircraft were also painted at 5 BRD, AF. The team of engineers who successfully completed this modification were: Wg Cdr CJA Sylum VSM nand Sqn Ldr Rajiv Patil

AeroIndia 2011 (February 9, 2011–13, 2011) was the last performance of SKAT using HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 aircraft. As stated by Chief of Air Staff in October 2010, the SKAT had started the conversion to the Hawk and this might take 2 to 3 years to complete.