IAF air show rehearsal held at Marina Beach
About 70 aircraft, including Rafale, LCA and Sukhoi took part in the first rehearsal on Tuesday at the Marina beach ahead of the mega Air Show on October 6.
The Air Show will be held as part of Air Force Day celebrations to be held in the city from October 6 to 8.
“In today’s rehearsal, close to 70 aircraft including Rafale, indigenously made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Sukhoi 30 MKI, Sarang helicopter display team, the Surya Kiran aerobatics team participated”, a defence release said.
“Today’s is a limited scale rehearsal, tomorrow from 11 am onwards there will be another rehearsal. On October four exactly a full dress rehearsal will be held from 11am onwards.
All these efforts will culminate in the planned mega airshow on October 6, Sunday”, it said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to participate in the Air show, which would one of India’s biggest event to be held in Chennai from October 6 to 8 after a gap of 21 years.
Apart from Mr Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and newly appointed Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh will participate.
This would one of the biggest air show to be held in Marina–the world’s second largest beach– on October six.
More than 15 lakh people are expected to throng the beach front on that day to witness the grand spectacle.
The last time the Air show was held in 2003 in Chennai during the late J Jayalalithaa regime when 13 lakh people turned up at Marina.
A total of 72 aircraft, including Rafale, Sukhoi and LCA, apart from Sarang helicopter display team, Suryakiran aerobatic team would participate in the air show.
An official release issued the LAF will showcase its might in the skies over Marina Beach during the grand air show on October 6 as part of the programmes organised to commemorate its 92nd anniversary.
This year’s event is based on theme “Bhartiya Vayu Sena-Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar (Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant), highlighting the lAF’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s airspace.
The people of Chennai will witness a thrilling spectacle on the day, with 72 aircraft from the LAF displaying mesmerizing aerobatic manoeuvres and synchronized formation flying.
The air show will feature performances by the LAF’s elite teams Akash Ganga, renowned for their skydiving prowess, the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team, famed for their close formation aerobatics and the Sarang Helicopter Display Team, known for their stunning aerial choreography.