Sarang display team
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Infobox military unit
Sarang is an aerobatic air display team of the Indian Air Force. Formally established as the No. 151 Helicopter Unit in 2005, the unit flies five modified HAL Dhruv helicopters and is based out of Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
Etymology
The name of the unit Sarang means peacock in Sanskrit.<ref name="Sarang"/> The peacock is the national bird of India.
History
The display team was originally formed as an evaluation flight squadron for Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) in 2002.<ref name="Sarang"/> Later, the team was re-tasked to form a helicopter aerobatic display unit.<ref name="Sarang"/> The display team was formed in October 2003 and was officially established as No. 151 Helicopter Unit of the Indian Air Force in 2005.<ref name="Sarang"/> The team was initially based out of Yelahanka Air Force Station near Bangalore before shifting base to Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore in 2009.<ref name="Sulur"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Aircraft
The team operates a set of HAL Dhruv Mk-I helicopters built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:As of, the team utilizes five HAL Dhruv helicopters painted in a special peacock livery and equipped with specialised canisters to produce white smoke during displays.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The unit currently operates the following aircraft:
- HAL Dhruv Mk-I (5)
The team performed using four helicopters in tandem before moving to a five helicopter display in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Service
The first public performance of the team was displayed at the Asian Aerospace show at Singapore in 2004.<ref name="Sarang"/> The team performed in the biennial defense air show cum exhibition Aero India, Air Force Day and Navy week celebrations and other events of national importance.<ref name="Sarang"/> In February 2024, the team performed in the Singapore Airshow, its second ever performance outside India and the first since the inaugural display in 2004.<ref name="ET">Template:Cite news</ref>
Apart from aerobatic display, the team is also engaged in disaster management and recovery. The team was involved in rescuing stranded people during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods. The team was also engaged in dropping food packets, relief materials and rescuing stranded people during various natural calamities such as the 2015 Chennai floods, 2018 Kerala floods, and the aftermath of tropical cyclones such as Cyclone Ockhi in 2017 and Cyclone Michaung in 2023.<ref name="ET"/>
Incidents
In February 2007, the team had its first fatal accident when one of the helicopters crashed near Yelahanka Air Force Station during a practice session before Aero India 2007. Co-pilot Squadron Leader Priyesh Sharma was killed and pilot Wing Commander Vikas Jettley was critically injured.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Vikas Jettley also succumbed to the injuries in 2011 after being in a comatose state for four years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gallery
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Sarang team uses modified HAL Dhruv
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The team uses multiple helicopters in tandem for air displays
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Canisters are used to produce white smoke during air displays
