ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday announced to hold a largest air show featuring aerobatic flying by Turkish Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force pilots to celebrate the Independence Day.

“To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Pakistan, the famous aerobatic team ‘Solo Turk’ of the Turkish Air Force and the internationally acclaimed Saudi Hawks of the Royal Saudi Air Force will make special appearances alongside Pakistan Air Force,” said Assistant Chief of Air Staff (operations) Air Commodore Ahsan Rafiq at a press briefing here.

Introducing the teams, he said besides the PAF aircraft such as mirage, F-16 and the Sherdils, MI17 and Puma helicopters from the Army Aviation would perform during the air show that would start at 1pm above F-9 Park.

Solo Turk aerobatic team will fly their F-16s as low as 200 feet above F-9 Park, says PAF official

“After the full dress rehearsals on Friday, the air forces from the three countries are all set to amaze the crowd,” said Mr Ali.

Capt Erhan Gunar and Capt Sardar Dogan of the Solo Turk aerobatics team will fly their F-16s as low as 60 metres (200 feet) above ground, pulling the hazardous 9G and negative 3G turns.

“Besides the roles, loops and the high and low passes, we have been practicing special display sequences for the 30-minute show which we demonstrated in the air shows in the UK and Romania,” said Capt Erhan Gunar who has 2,000 flying hours on the F-16. Capt Gunar has been flying for 16 years and is an operational aerial fighter pilot in the Turkish Air Force.

In reply to a question, Capt told Dawn that special gear, training and absolute physical fitness combined the counteract effects of gravitational forces.

He said he enjoyed flying the F-16 more than any other aircraft. The excess thrust ratio of F-16, which is more than the entire weight of the air craft, makes the plane extremely agile and lighter and more maneuverable.

“But if I could choose to perform in any other aircraft it would be the JF-17,” said Capt Gunar.

Second Pilot Capt Sardar Dogan told Dawn that his favourite maneuver was the low pass with speed dropped below 100 knots.

“It’s a dangerous maneuver because the aircraft is not designed to fly at such slow speeds and the pilot risks losing control. The fact that the pilot is flying low enough to make outfaces in the crowd below and audience can see the pilot clearly, make the maneuver even more thrilling,” he said.

Flt Lt Emrah Bayri told the briefing that the maneuvers had been developed by the Turkish Air Force and some by Capt Erhan Gunar that demonstrate skills of the pilots pushing the aircraft to its limits.

The briefing was informed that the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatics team would take the skies for 23 minutes in their MK65 training aircraft. Col Musa Al Fafi said it was an honour to be invited to perform on the 70th independence anniversary of Pakistan.

The Saudi Hawks will be flying wing tip to wing tip, one metre to two metres apart depending on the shapes of the maneuvers and making 6G to 7G turns roughly 200 feet above the ground.

Responding to a question, Col Fafi told Dawn that every maneuver was special and the team enjoyed performing from the first minute to the 23rd minute.

“Skill of the pilots, trust and teamwork are some of the strengths of the Saudi Hawks,” he said.

The Saudi Hawks have been performing for 20 years in the Gulf and UK.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2017