SAGAR PAWAN INDIAN NAVY FORMATION AEROBATIC TEAM
The Indian Navy operates a number of aircraft from its premier air base INS Hansa located at Dabolim, each with its designated role in the overall scheme towards our nations war fighting capability.
The formal unveiling of the team was done on 11 May 2003 on the occasion of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Naval Aviation in Kochi. Thereafter the Sagar Pawan has performed in Kochi, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Goa and has bedazzled, many an audience with their spectacular array of breathtaking combination aerobatic manoeuvres like loops, barrel rolls, upward rolls, high speed run, bomb burst and rotates.
In line with the Indian Air Force nine aircraft formation aerobatic team, Surya Kirans, the Sagar Pawan too operates the indigenous Kiran Mk II aircraft. The Kiran Mk II is a Basic Jet Trainer Built by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited. Powered by a fairly powerful Rolls Royce Orpheus engine, with excellent maneuverability design features, it is considered a near ideal aircraft for aerobatics.
A typical display commences with a dramatic arrival Loop. In a deafening roar, the three aero planes appear from no where, flying close, and straight for the audience. As they pitch up for the loop and draw a perfect circle in the sky, the spectators are left spellbound by the shear sound of three jets streaking right above them. Thereafter, the team performs a high speed run with three aircraft in line astern, which mean one behind the other at a distance of barely five feet, whizzing past the audience at speeds close to 600 Kmph. The subsequent maneuvers include loops or barrel rolls or a combination of a loop and a barrel roll. The children, un hindered by any inhibitions are awestruck by the ballet of fighter jets.
