Bengaluru: Four helicopters, with black spots painted on yellow background to mimic the underbelly of a peacock, fly tantalisingly close to one another. They loop around, each at a different angle, and each turn, dive and twirl, sending the crowd to raucous applause.
Arguably, the Indian Sarang team — popularly called ‘Flying Peacocks’ — is among the most popular displays at the current Aero India show. This is apparent by the swarm of crowds, friendly requests for handshakes and selfies with the team of four.
However, for the team, air shows are the only form of interaction with their fans. “Due to military protocols, Sarang is not on social media (unlike other professional aerobatic teams),” said Wing Commander Mudit Chaurasiya, who has performed in three previous editions of Aero India.
Moreover, ‘branding’ of the team and indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter they use fall far behind due to the restrictions on their touring. Though the team performs in nearly 15 shows annually, they are not allowed to showcase their skills abroad.
20/02/15 Mohit M Rao/The Hindu
Arguably, the Indian Sarang team — popularly called ‘Flying Peacocks’ — is among the most popular displays at the current Aero India show. This is apparent by the swarm of crowds, friendly requests for handshakes and selfies with the team of four.
However, for the team, air shows are the only form of interaction with their fans. “Due to military protocols, Sarang is not on social media (unlike other professional aerobatic teams),” said Wing Commander Mudit Chaurasiya, who has performed in three previous editions of Aero India.
Moreover, ‘branding’ of the team and indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter they use fall far behind due to the restrictions on their touring. Though the team performs in nearly 15 shows annually, they are not allowed to showcase their skills abroad.
20/02/15 Mohit M Rao/The Hindu
No comments:
Post a Comment