In pictures: IAF’s Sarang team brings new ‘Spot Stall Turn’ to Egypt airshow
IAF’s Sarang display team arrives in Egypt. (Image courtesy: Instagram/indembcairo/sarang_iaf)
New Delhi: Five helicopters of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sarang helicopter display team are set to dominate the skies over Egypt as the country prepares to host the second edition of the El Alamein International Airshow from September 8 to 10. The deployment will see the IAF’s five-helicopter formation showcase the agility of the indigenous ALH Dhruv, including Sarang’s signature Dolphin Leap and a new “Spot Stall Turn” manoeuvre.
The five-helicopter display team will use the event to demonstrate tightly coordinated formation flying, close-proximity manoeuvres and synchronised aerial sequences that demand a high degree of precision from its pilots.
RNA Media had earlier reported that the five Dhruv helicopters were transported from India aboard C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and subsequently offloaded at Borg El Arab.
New manoeuvre takes flight
The Spot Stall Turn will be one of the highlights of Sarang’s performance at El Alamein, adding a new element to the team’s established display routine. The team will also perform its well-known Dolphin Leap, giving spectators an opportunity to see the Dhruv execute a combination of precision manoeuvres in close formation.
The Sarang display is built around choreography in which each helicopter has to maintain carefully calculated positions while executing coordinated movements. The demanding nature of such flying makes the performance as much a demonstration of pilot skill and discipline as it is a showcase of the helicopter itself.
Dhruv in the international spotlight
At the heart of the display is the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, an indigenously designed and manufactured platform developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Sarang’s performances provide an unusual international showcase for the helicopter, demonstrating its versatility and agility outside a conventional operational setting.
The team’s five-helicopter formation also gives international spectators and aviation professionals a closer look at the capabilities of an Indian-built rotary-wing platform.
Sarang’s second Egyptian appearance
The El Alamein event marks Sarang’s return to Egypt after its appearance at the inaugural Egyptian International Airshow in 2024. The team’s participation in the second edition comes as the event brings together air forces and professionals from the global aerospace, defence and space sectors.
