No. 52 Squadron IAF

52 Squadron 'The Sharks'

"The crest of the No. 52 Squadron"
Active 1 May 1996–30 June 2011
Country  India
Branch  Indian Air Force
Role Aerobatic Display Team
Size 9 Aircraft / 13 Pilots
Garrison/HQ Bidar Air Force Station
Motto सदैव सर्वोत्तम (Sanskrit:Sadaiva Sarvottam, English:Always the Best)
Aircraft flown
Trainer Kiran Mk II

'No. 52 Squadron' now belongs to the aerobatic squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was raised in 1996 and is based at Bidar Air Force Station. The squadron acquired status in 2006. It is popularly known as the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT). SKAT performs all across the country as well as in China, the UK, Germany, Laos and Sri Lanka. The Surya Kirans were among the top three nine-aircraft aerobatics teams in the world, along with the British Red Arrows and the Canadian Snowbirds.[1]

Also known as 'The Sharks', No 52 Squadron was initially raised on January 1, 1986, and is the youngest Fighter Sqn of the IAF. The Sharks flew the MiG-21 FL and were used in the MiG Operational Fighter Training role. They were briefly used in OAS role in 1996, before being 'number-plated' (deactivated), in June 2005. The Squadron motto is "Sadaiv Sarvottam", which translates as "Always the Best".[2]

For its consistent performance since 1996, the Suryakiran was awarded Chief of the Air Staff’s Unit Citation on October 8, 2004. It is the first unit in the IAF to receive this award.[2]

History

52 Squadron IAF was originally born on 1 January 1986 at 16 Wing, Hashimara, equipped with the T-77 aircraft. The primary role of the Squadron was Air defence, and the secondary role was ground attack. However, during peace time the Squadron was given the additional responsibility of conducting MOFT syllabus of young pilots. The Squadron moved to Bagdogra on January 1990 where it continued to perform its primary, secondary and peacetime roles. On 1 November 1996 the Squadron moved to 14 Wing at Chabua.[3]

Formation aerobatics has been a part of IAF aviation history since it was established. The Surya Kiran (which means 'sunbeam' in Sanskrit) squadron was conceived in 1996 to serve as Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force who would showcase the prowess of the Air Force's fighter pilots in precision aerobatic flying. The SKAT was a successor of the earlier display team, the 'Thunderbolts', who performed in the early 1980s.

Citing shortage of aircraft for training purposes, The IAF retired the Kirans soon after the 2011 Aero India display and announced that the Indian aerobatics team would regroup on the BAE Systems’ Hawk trainer aircraft.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Indian skies, foreign thrills at Aero India". Deccan Chronicle. 23 January 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "AEROBATICS Flying colours of courage". The Tribune. 31 March 2007.
  3. ↑ "Squadron 52 "Sharks"". Global Security. Retrieved 9 March 2015.