July 11, 2003	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1424

SRINAGAR, July 10: Indian air force jets and helicopters enthralled hundreds of residents here on Thursday during a rare and colourful display of aerobatics.

Speeding jets zoomed over Srinagar’s world famous Lake Dal, manoeuvring into a series of formations against the deep blue sky to the delight of hundreds of residents on the ground, school-children in uniform among them.

Thursday’s performance, delayed by one day due to bad weather, was the first air show since the freedom movement began in 1989.

Nine pilots known as Suryakiran, or ray of the sun, steered their air force jets into aerobatic formations such as the diamond, phoenix, tango, wedge and goblet.

“It is amazing. It is wonderful,” said Adnan Ahmed, a student at a private school in Srinagar.

Helicopters and India’s largest transport carrier aircraft, the IL-76, were also on display.—AFP