Vadodara: The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force will kick off their 2025 Gujarat tour with an aerobatic performance in Vadodara on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Established in 1996, the SKAT team is Asia’s only nine-aircraft aerobatic group and one of the few elite teams worldwide. With over 700 displays both in India and abroad, including in China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, and the UAE, the team embodies the motto “Sarvada Sarvottam,” meaning “Always the Best.”

Comprising nine Hawk Mk132 aircraft, which are license-manufactured in India, the Suryakiran team flies in close formations with distances of less than 5 meters between the aircraft. The team consists of 14 pilots, led by Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, with Deputy Leader Group Captain Sidhesh Kartik. The pilots undergo rigorous training to perfect complex maneuvers, with flawless coordination being key to their precision flying. The technical team is led by Wing Commander Abhimanyu Tyagi, while Flight Lieutenant Kanwal Sandhu serves as the commentator and administrator, and Squadron Leader Sudarshan is the team’s doctor.

The upcoming air show promises to be a spectacular display, with the pilots performing thrilling maneuvers such as loops, rolls, head-on crosses, buzzes, and inverted flying. One of the highlights will be the DNA maneuver, in which five aircraft will come together to form a helix shape in the sky, representing the DNA structure. DeshGujarat