The Air Show organized to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) commenced on Wednesday (3) under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in the skies above the Galle Face Green in Colombo.
A total of 14 Indian aircraft were deployed for the event. Further 24 aircraft such as the Cessna-150, Y12, B-200, MA-60 and F7 Fighter Jets from the Sri Lanka Air Force also took part in the air show.
Wednesday’s Air Show was the first of the three-day event.
The Air Show was open to the public and was held giving priority to the health guidelines related to the prevention of COVID-19. The inaugural Air Show was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, Western Province Governor Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Defence Secretary General G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.
SLAF Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana explained various points of the Air Show to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Air Show was also attended by the visiting Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat.
Wednesday’s Air Show commenced with the Fly-Past by the Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft which included Bell 212 and Bell 412 helicopters, Mi-17 helicopters, Cessna 150 aircraft, B200 Beech King aircraft, MA-60 aircraft followed by the supersonic F-7s. Soon after the SLAF Fly-Past the Tejas Multirole Light Fighter Aircraft commenced their aerobatic sequence signifying the start of the Indian Air Force (IAF) aerobatics show.
After the performance by the Tejas, the Sarang helicopters commenced their manoeuvres which kept the spectators enthralled throughout the performance.
The Sarang Team was followed by the elegant Surya Kirans made up of 9 BAE Hawks flying in close formation. The manoeuvres which were performed by the Kirans continued to keep the eyes of the spectators fixed on the clear and beautiful skies above Galle Face Green.
The Air Show came to an end with one of our very own F-7 fighter jet aircraft making a low and daring pass and an after burner zoom up followed by an aileron roll before disappearing in to the skies. The spectators were caught off guard as the F-7 boomed pass out of nowhere and blazed through the skies above Galle Face Green with its deafening roar, thus marking the end of the Air Show.
