The Surya Kiran team, displaying the pinnacle of flying skills.
This undated photograph shows an Indian Air Force [IAF] pilot taking a selfie, after rolling over & flying upside down, exactly overhead his team member, reminiscent of that iconic scene from Top Gun. Belonging to the IAF's Surya Kiran flight demonstration team, he is flying the recently adopted BAE Systems Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer [AJT], painted in the team's trademark Orange & White pattern. Quite a sight, ain't it?
click on the image to view it in larger size
via @writetake
Prior to this, the team enthralled crowds, flying the indigenous HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer aircrafts. Owing to a shortage of of trainer aircrafts in the IAF's inventory, however, these airframes were transferred to its training wings, operated from Air Force Academy, Dundigul, near Hyderabad, in Telangana. The choice of Hawks, as its aircraft of choice, was an easy choice. The state DPSU, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL], is, presently, in the process of manufacturing them under license from the OEM, to meet the training curriculum of the Air Force & Navy. Just a matter of building some more.
The Surya Kiran team is one of the few teams in the world regularly giving performances in a 9 aircraft formation. Expect them to be the showstopper during this year's Aero India 2017 air show, to commence in Bengaluru from Valentine's Day. Love it!
Godspeed