Blue wings promise big dreams. In its recent air show at Nagpur, this was the message the youth carried back home. A large number of people from adjoining places Akola, Chandrapur, Amravati, Bhandra and Vardha turned up at Air Force Station, Sonegaon to watch the spectacular air-show and static display of aircraft organised by Headquarters Maintenance Command. The overcast sky failed to dampen the spirit of the spectators.

The highlight of the air show was an enthralling performance by the team of nine Kiran MK-II, indigenously manufactured jet trainer aircraft. During the display, all the nine aircraft took off simultaneously in Vic formation of three and joined in close formation. Operating between 200 and 600 kmph their wing tips were only five metres apart. Diamond, Shockwave, Columbia, Card, Delta, Sukhoi, Vaikyrie, Wine Glass and Apollo were the different formations which put their colourful signatures on the skies of Nagpur.

The Suryakiran team showed its skill in hundreds of air shows around the country including three displays at Aero-India international air-show in Bangalore. One AN-32 and two Dornier aircraft from Dindigul and Hyderabad, three Jaguars from Gorakhpur and one SU-30 from Pune appeared one by one in the sky with excellent synchronisation. They displayed aerobatics before going back to their respective stations. Breathtaking performance by parajumpers, well-known as Akashganga team, added colour to the show. Demonstration by two NCC trainer micro-light aircraft was also appreciated by the viewers. One Mi-8 helicopter also participated in the show.

There was also a static display of state-of-the-art SU-30 aircraft. Other frontline aircraft like MiG-29, Mirage-2000, HPT-32, IL-76 and Suryakiran of Indian Air Force were also displayed on the occasion. Information stalls related to various aircraft, radars, missiles, communication equipments were put up.

This air show and static display was part of the awareness campaign about challenging career opportunities available in the Indian Air Force. A holiday was also declared by many schools to enable the students watch the air show. Local media reported that more than three lakh people visited Sonegaon to see the air-show which was also telecast live by a national news channel

To maintain operational readiness, Air Force imparts highly specialised training to its recruits in well-equipped training institutes which are amongst the world's best. Films are also screened for youth on capabilities of IAF and role of IAF in Kargil Conflict. Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters Maintenance Command, Nagpur, Air Marshal DC Nigam said : "Earlier we have staged the show as a national awareness programme in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Now we have brought it to Maharashtra. Nagpur, being the heart of India is a place surrounded by many states. We thought that staging an air show at Nagpur will have its significance in adjoining states also". He added : "Sixteen-seventeen states of the country contribute to manning of IAF which mean six to seven per cent input from each state. We wish input from Maharashtra should rise up to eight to ten per cent."