Personal Account
| The Chandigarh Air Show 25th March |
| By : Rupak | Previous | Next |
| Posted on : 09 Aug, 2006 | Total Views : 314 |
Entering the huge gates of the Chandigarh Air Base was an exciting ordeal in itself. Add to it the prospect of seeing real combat aircrafts up close as well as show casing their prowesses. It was sure to be a memorable afternoon.
We had reached the base some one hour before the dynamic display was to begin and decided to utilise the time in having a close look at the flying machines which inspire awe in us. They had been put their for the static display. It allowed you to have a close look at it from outside and ask the air force officer on duty to explain mechanisms you were curious about. Getting inside was not an option.
Entering the pavillion where the different systems used in the modern aircrafts were being show cased, we witnessed the power house of the giant transport air craft of the IAF, i.e. the IL- 76. IL stands for Ilyushin. The engine, four of which are fitted in the IL-76, devours two tons of fuel each hour, making its total fuel consumption a massive eight tons per hour. The carrier can travel with a payload of 47000 kg or at maximum 225 troops. It's maximum range being 5000 kms and has a service cieling of 12 kms. Hereafter we moved out of the pavillion and onto the air field. There standing in front of us was the majestic IL-76. We were all dumbstruck and no one dared blink lest it vanish from our sight. Getting closer, we were just several metres from the plane and it was difficult to believe that such a giant could actually be moved let alone get off the ground. the statistics show that the plane has a wing span of 50m. It's big isn't it. This craft as we found out later is used to ferry millitary supplies and troops from one establishment to another. It is also used by some countries as an in air refueller.
Standing some distance away from it was the Russian built MiG 27. It looked somewhat out of place, exactly as the crocodile is not a pleasant sight on the ground but is as swift as the hawk in its own territory,i.e. in water bodies. Similarly the combat aircrafts look longingly at the skies when not in flight. They look lopsided when on the ground. They did not create the sensation i had been expecting on seeing the warriors of the skies. The mind began to doubt its skill in air as well and the fame of the craft seemed over hyped. It supposedly has a maximum speed of 2400 kmph, i.e. twice the speed of sound. It can fly for 1500 km at a stretch and has a maximum flying height of 18.5 km. The maximum payload capability being 3000 kg, it can carry air to air missiles. It was here that we got the opportunity to talk to a IAF crew who was answering queries about the craft. We asked him about the technique by which heat seeking missiles are put off course and the pilot maneuvres out of tight situations. We were told that the pilot fires a packet of some entity which on released explodes to give out greater amount of heat to attract the missile to itself while the pilot maneuvres out of the situation so that he saves the plane from any damage. It was new information for us and we thoroughly enjoyed listening to his explanation.
Displayed next to this was the MiG 29 on one side and the MiG 21 on the other. MiG 29 as you know was India's cherished craft till the Sukhoi and the Mirage were introduced a couple of years ago. The MiG 29 has the capability of flying 1500 kms without refuelling. The maximum speed attained is about 2429 kmph. That is fast. Along with this the craft has air to ground attack capability.
The MiG 21 on the other hand has a wingspan of 7.15 m and attains a maximum speed of 2050 kmph. The cieling of flight is 17 km. It can travel upto 1800 km without the requirement of refuelling.
Moving on, we met yet another reputed combat aircraft of the IAF, the Jaguar. Being of Anglo- French origin, it is quite popular with the IAF pilots who regard the French fighters to be a cut above the rest.
Moving further, we came to another giant we had been eyeing for quite some time. It was the largest helicopter in service in the IAF. Capable of carrying war tanks to and fro, with a payload of 20000 kgs, it was the MI 26. At maximum it can travel 1920 km without requiring refuelling. It has a flight cieling of 6.5km and can attain a maximum speed of 240 kmph.
The next helicopter under our scrutiny was the MI 35. Being of russian origin as the MI 26, it can attain a speed of 297 kmph, and fly for a distance of 319 km before running our of fuel. It an carry a payload of 4750 kg and has a flight cieling of 4.5 km. Its capability of night vision and housing 12.7 mm guns, gives it an edge over the others in use as a combat helicopter.
A couple of more helicopters were on display but we had to skip them considering the hands of the watch which were racing to reach the four o'clock mark when the dynamic display would begin. Unable to keep our minds from straying and our hearts from pounding in anticipation of what was about to come, we chose to study ust the two last helicopters 'Cheetah' and the 'Chetak' both of which were indegeous products of India.
The 'Cheetah', named after the agile species of the cat family, is capable of attaining 192kmph and a distance of 515 km at most. The diameter of its main rotor is 12.2 m. It can carry a 1000 kg payload and has a service cieling of 6.4 km. However, the IAF often uses the copter in operations at heights of upto 7.3 km. Its general functions are that of an ambulance in rescue operations and photographic functions. It is all in all a small helicopter and a baby in the face of the giants on display of the likes of the MI 26.
Succeeding this is the smallest of them all, the 'Chetak'. Named after the famous horse of the majestic warrior of Indian history, Maharaja Rana Pratap, it keeps the pride of the name intact. Capable of flying at a speed of 210 kmph and a payload of 500 kg, the 'Chetak' too has duties similar to the 'Cheetah'. It can travel a maximum distance of 500 km and achieve a flight cieling of 3.2 km.
As the clock struck four, the patience of the crowd began to ebb away, but the IAF were not there to allow anybody to go unsatisfied and two AN-32s followed by an IL-76 took the lead and started off accross the runway. Seeing them move was a wonder in itself and as the IL-76 took off the ground, no one in the audience could stop the unmistakeable loud gasp which emerged fromt the crowd. Those who missed it woudl resent their looking away at anything else at that moment.
Three more AN-32s followed suit and as we moved to a location to get a better view of the runway, our eyes stuck on the moving rotors of the MI 26 some distance off. As the rotor began to move, the helicopter roared into life and slowly but steadily rose into the air. The rotors supporting such a huge machine in the air was another treat of the day. It moved slowly towards us and then showed a couple of its maneuvres before moving away and leaving the skies clear for the things to come. It was already 4:30 and anticipation of what all we would be subjected to was occupying our minds. Soon the speakers blared into life and subjected us to a treat for our ears. Two MiG 29s were approaching from our front. We tried to spot them, but it was only when they had come near enough to be seen that we noticed the two and that they were at considerable height. However, they were maneuvering close to each other as if one following the other. It may have been possible that that was what they were doing. We did not know. Soon enough, they again vanished into the thin air in the same manner as they had emerged from it.
Again from the front came two Jaguars, at just about 1000 feet followed by two MiG 27s. They were indulged in a mock dog fight and zoomed over us. We were left in the dilema as to which one to see and which one to miss. All four were gone in a matter of seconds and we were left to discuss which one did the best and catch up on who missed what.
Next to come were the MiG 21s. They are nicknamed the BISONS. They were to show case their speed. They came and they went. It seemed that they were just missiles. We were not able to distinguish their wings, and to say they were observable would be sheer lie.
Coming form the left this time were the MiG 23s. There were four of them. Three came first and they had their wings inclined at 17 degrees to the body. The one leading them changed its wing angle to 45 degrees during the course of its flight. They were pretty fast, but the fastest and the loudest of them all was the last one. It came at a rocking speed of 850 kmph and with it's wings tucked in at 75 degrees. The tail jet could be seen all red and flaring to keep the speed. This was the fastest thing i had ever witnessed live. There was no comparison. The most rocking event of the evening was this flypast and none of the following displays could erase it from our minds.
More was to come. All exciting in their own ways. It began with the enacting of the war scene where two MI 35 helicopters came to keep an area under surveillance from the enemy soldiers where a friendly pilot had ejected and landed. This was followed by two MI 17s which came and allowed commandoes to get down with the aid of ropes. They searched for the pilot when the copters kept up the vigilence. Then the MI 17s picked up their soldiers and after taking a round left. Followed another war scene where an oil pipeline had to be destroyed. An MI 17 brought a jeep and allowed it to disembark on the ground after landing. The jeep under took its objective and then got back into the copter to leave. We were left applauding to the efficient way in which the operation was undertaken.
This was followed by the fly past of the two AN 32s and the IL 76 in a small boy formation. The air crafts were rock steady and moved elegantly.
The last major event to take the event away before the display was wrapped up was the sky diving by the Akash Ganga team. This team specialises in the sky diving. It is based in Agra and with V. K. Sharma leading the team a group of 14 para troopers jumped from a height of about 4000 metres. One of the jumpers had the experience of 1300 jumps. Something of this magnitude brought the leaving audience to a stand still and we all waited for the safe landing of all these brave souls. They all made perfectly landings at the designated location. A group of 3 had the courage of holding together and maneuvering three parachutes together to keep it in the shape of the Indian Flag.
We all felt proud about the prowess and courage that our countrymen could show.
THis was followed by the landings of the different AN 32s and the IL 76 whose base was Chandigarh Air Base. The rest went back to the Ambala base where they had originated their flight. The IL 76 being a huge craft but made a perfect landing which was described as an onlooker to be as running of a hot knife through butter.
It was one of those experiences which one can never forget.
I may be witness to more air shows but this one was my first and would always by embedded in my memory.
Written By : Rupak
