Article Posted on : - Oct 03, 2013

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Air Force is gearing up to display its might on Air Force Day on October 8 with C-17 Globemaster, its biggest transport aircraft, set to make its maiden appearance.

The C-17 will make its first appearance on the 81st anniversary of the Indian Air Force to be celebrated at the Hindon air force station, rehearsals for which began on Tuesday, an official statement said.

A Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft and Tigermoth, a vintage carrier, will follow the C-17.

The air display will commence with flag bearing sky divers of Akash Ganga team dropping out of AN-32 aircraft.

The fighter flypast will be led by three Jaguar aircraft closely followed by Bison (MiG-21), Baaz (MiG-29), Mirage (Mirage 2000) aircraft and Su-30 MKI (Sukhoi) aircraft, it said.

Two Su-30s will carry out low level flypast, while the Sarang helicopter display will mark the grand finale to the ceremony, it said.

The commencement of the Air Force Day parade will be marked by flypast of three Mi-17 V5 helicopters. Three Mi-25/35 would follow.

Another attraction will be three C-130J Hercules aircraft and two AN-32 aircraft on either side followed by one AN-32 aircraft in the lead with two Avro and two Dornier aircraft flying past. BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system will also be part of the anniversary celebration by IAF.