Joint air display by IAF and Air India in Mumbai on 9 September
02 Aug 2007
Frontline fighter aircraft from the Indian Air Force (IAF) would fly wing to wing with commercial aircraft from Air India's (AI) fleet in a joint air display and fly past at Mumbai on 9 September 2007. Both the IAF and AI are 75 years old and celebrating their platinum jubilees this year.
Formidable IAF fighters like Su-30s, MiG-29s, Jaguars and MiG-21 Bisons would be flying in close formation with aircraft from Air India's entire fleet.
The fly past would be followed by an aerobatic display by IAF's Surya Kiran aerobatic team 'The Skats'. A solo aerobatic display by an IAF Su-30 air superiority fighter would also be part of the display, which will be held between Girgaum Chowpaty and Nariman Point, in south Mumbai.
Though it will be a ceremonial public display and an outstanding public attraction, the flypast will take place without too many prior practices or rehearsals, so as to cause as little disruption to civilian air traffic as possible.
Cooperation between the military and civilian air fleets does take place from time to time. Recently, when Air India's new Boeing 777 arrived at New Delhi for the first time from Seattle, USA, IAF Su-30s ceremoniously escorted it on 28 July before it landed at IGI Airport, New Delhi.
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