Sarang display team

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]

Sarang
Indian Air Force Helicopter Display Team
ActiveOctober 2003 to Present
Country India
Branch Indian Air Force
RoleAerobatic display team
Size14 Officers
32 Airmen
Garrison/HQSulur Air Force Station
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Wg Cdr Hari Nair, Wg Cdr Shashank Misra, Wg Cdr M Benny Mathews
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Aircraft flown
Helicopter4 - HAL Dhruvs

Performances

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.

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 Jetly received serious head injuries.[3]

See also

References
  1. ILA 2008: Proud as Peacocks
  2. "'Sarang' team bids adieu to Yelahanka Air Force Station". 25 September 2009.
  3. "Dhruv crashed".


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