Suryakiran’s 30-Year flight across Indian skies

Formed in 1996 at Air Force Station Bidar in Karnataka, Suryakiran was established as the Indian Air Force’s dedicated aerobatic display team. The unit originally flew the HJT-16 Kiran trainer aircraft, from which it derived its name. Over time, the team’s striking red-and-white jets became synonymous with Indian aviation displays, drawing huge crowds wherever they performed.

For the last three decades, the red-and-white aircraft of the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team have remained one of the most recognisable sights in Indian and international skies (through participation). Known for their sharp formations, colourful smoke trails, and breathtaking precision, the team has become the public face of the Indian Air Force at air shows and national celebrations across the country.

What separates Suryakiran from ordinary flying is the level of precision involved. Pilots fly at high speeds while maintaining extremely close distances between aircraft during loops, barrel rolls, mirror passes, and synchronised formations. In many manoeuvres, aircraft fly only a few metres apart, demanding extraordinary concentration and trust between pilots. At its peak, Suryakiran operated with a formidable nine aircraft flying together, making it one of the largest aerobatic teams in Asia. Every pilot selected into the team is first a trained Indian Air Force officer. Aerobatic flying is considered among the toughest forms of aviation because it combines high-speed manoeuvring with split-second decision-making under intense physical pressure. Selection into Suryakiran has long been viewed as both prestigious and demanding within the Air Force.

Over the years, the team has performed at Republic Day celebrations, Aero India exhibitions in Bengaluru, and air displays across India, becoming a major attraction for aviation enthusiasts and the public alike. For many young Indians, watching Suryakiran was often their first close glimpse of military aviation. The team’s journey, however, was not without setbacks. In 2011, Suryakiran was temporarily disbanded due to aircraft shortages and operational priorities within the Indian Air Force. The decision disappointed aviation followers across the country, many of whom believed the famous display team might never return. But four years later, in 2015, Suryakiran returned with a new identity and a new aircraft platform — the Hawk Mk132 Advanced Jet Trainer. The induction of the Hawk significantly modernised the team, offering improved performance capability, avionics, and safety standards.

The team has also faced moments of tragedy. In 2019, two pilots lost their lives in a crash during a practice sortie ahead of Aero India in Bengaluru, underlining the risks associated with formation aerobatic flying, where margins for error remain extremely small. Yet, despite losses and interruptions, Suryakiran endured. Today, the team represents more than aerial entertainment. It has become a symbol of precision, discipline, professionalism, and the softer side of military aviation diplomacy — one that connects directly with civilians, within and across borders, through skill and spectacle rather than conflict. As Suryakiran completes thirty years, the team continues to evolve while retaining the spirit that made it iconic. During its latest public performance, the formation once again painted the sky with its signature tricolour smoke trails before breaking into a perfectly synchronised manoeuvre that drew applause from thousands watching below.

It was a familiar sight — fast jets, perfect timing, and silence turning into awe. Three decades later, Suryakiran still does what it has always done best: reminding India that flying, at its highest level, is as much about trust and precision as it is about speed.

The writer is an educationist and senior columnist; Views presented are personal.