Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

Mumbai Air Show 2004

Kapil Chandni, Samir Patil, Aditya Mandrekar and others. After nearly a gap of forty years, The city of Mumbai was witness to a joint Air Display by Air India and the Indian Air Force on 17 October 2004. The airshow was preceded by a Static Display of Aircraft and Weaponry at the Mumbais Chatrapathi Shivaji International Air Port for two days on 14th and 15th October. The Static display showcased not only aircraft but also weaponry and equipment. Air India itself provided a Boeing 747 to be displayed alongside the main airforce lineup. On the 17th, the flypast was preceded by the Usual Helicopters dropping flowers and then two Air India aircraft, a Boeing 747 and then an Airbus A310 both flew past, escorted closely by Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters. This was followed up by formation flypasts of MiG-29s, Jaguars, Sukhoi-30s etc. The airshow was rounded up by a scintillating display of aerobatics by the Sarang Helicopter team, followed up by the Suryakirans. Recommended Links [url=http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?&maxres=500&keywords=Mumbai%20Air%20Show&keywrange=all]Photos from Airliners.net[/url] by Ketan Mahadeshwar, Yakasang [url=http://ashishtibrewal.fotopic.net/c315975.html]Ashish Tibrewals Photo Pages[/url] [url=http://www.amitkulkarni.info/pics/mumbai-air-show-2004/]Amit Kulkarnis Air Show Pictures[/url] [url=http://myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&photographer=Karan%20Bindra]Karan Bindras Pictures from My Aviation.net[/url] The flypast comprised of a total of 47 aircraft. Starting with the customary flower drop and Trooping of Colors (top left). The formation included Jumbo - A Boeing 747 escorted by two Su30 MKIs (Top Right) and Big Bird - An Airbus A310 escorted by Su30s. Also displayed were the Big Boy and Air to Air Refuelling formations. Fighter aircraft flypasts formed the next part of the display and included a Mock combat between MiG-29s and Sukhoi-30s. The Sarang and Suryakiran display capped the one hour long airshow. The Suryakirans exhibited the four aircraft cross over for the first time to the public (Bottom Right) The [url=http://www.airindia.com/WidgetImages/871.JPG]Flypast Details[/url] on the Air India Website.