IAF’s Sarang Helicopter Team Returns to Bareilly After 8 Years With Five-Day Air Display

The Indian Air Force’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team is back in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, for the first time in eight years. The team last performed in the city in 2018. This time, it is holding a five-day programme at Air Force Station Bareilly, also known as Trishul Airbase, from 13 to 17 October 2026.

The programme in Bareilly

The visit has been planned in stages:

• 13 October: Practice and coordination flights over the airbase.

• 14 October: A display of about 15 minutes at an air show linked to the Air Force Day celebrations.

• 15 and 17 October: Public displays for school and college students and invited guests.

What the crowd saw

The team flew five helicopters in close formation, staying low at around 50 to 150 metres so that people on the ground could see every move clearly. The main formations included:

• Arrowhead: The helicopters fly together in the shape of an arrow.

• India formation: The aircraft line up in a straight line.

• Diamond: Four or more helicopters form a tight diamond shape in the sky.

• Dolphin Leap: The team’s signature move, in which the helicopters rise and dip one after another, like dolphins jumping out of water.

After the show on 14 October, one of the pilots spoke with students, answering their questions about flying and life in the Air Force. Squadron Leader Gokul, who captains one of the helicopters, was among the pilots in the team.

About the Sarang team

The Sarang team was formed in 2003. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word for peacock, and the helicopters are painted in bright peacock colours to match.

The team flies the ALH Dhruv, an Advanced Light Helicopter designed and built in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Using a made-in-India helicopter for its displays also helps the team show off the country’s own aerospace skills at home and abroad. Sarang is often described as the world’s only five-helicopter display team and is one of only a few military helicopter display teams in the world.

Apart from air shows, the team’s pilots also take part in joint exercises and humanitarian missions.

Fresh from Egypt

The team’s visit to Bareilly comes shortly after its performance abroad. In September, Sarang took part in the second El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt, held from 8 to 10 September 2026. There, it performed its signature move and also showed a new move called the Spot Stall Turn for the first time.

Why these shows matter

The displays are about more than entertainment. The Air Force uses them to:

• Show Indian technology: Highlight what India-made helicopters can do.

• Display pilot skills: Show the high level of training and teamwork of IAF pilots.

• Inspire young people: Encourage students to take an interest in science, aviation and aerospace engineering.

• Promote careers: Make young people aware of the career options in the armed forces.

For many students, displays like this are a rare chance to see military helicopters flying this close. Events like these can spark an early interest in joining the forces.

A note for aspirants

If watching the Sarang team has made you want to fly with the Air Force, there are clear routes to the cockpit. Young people can join the Flying Branch as officers through the NDA exam after Class 12, or through the CDS and AFCAT exams after graduation. Every route leads to the Air Force Selection Board, followed by pilot aptitude testing and a medical check.

This year’s Air Force celebrations across the country, including the Bareilly air show, give aspirants a close look at the life they are working towards.