Indian Air Force’s Suryakiran Aerobatic Team to thrill Hyderabad skies during Wings India 2026

Hyderabad is set for a spectacular aerial display as the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will perform aerobatic demonstrations at Begumpet Airport on January 28 and 29 as part of Wings India 2026. The schedule has been confirmed in the monthly performance calendar released by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team.

While the city has witnessed the team’s performances earlier, this edition offers aviation enthusiasts a rare opportunity to watch the Suryakirans fly on two consecutive days. The back-to-back displays are expected to draw large crowds, continuing Hyderabad’s tradition of hosting high-profile aerial showcases during Wings India.

Formed in 1966, the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team is popularly known as the Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force. Based at Bidar Air Force Station, the team flies the BAE Hawk Mk.132 aircraft. The unit comprises 13 pilots, with 9 taking part in any given display. Over the decades, the team has earned acclaim for its precision and synchronisation, captivating audiences across India and abroad with its aerobatic excellence.

Wings India is a biennial civil aviation exhibition held at Begumpet Airport and is regarded as Asia’s largest event of its kind. Organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the show was first held in 2008 and has since grown into a key platform for showcasing India’s aviation ecosystem. At Wings India 2024, the Indian Air Force’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team had impressed audiences with its manoeuvres. The 2026 edition of Wings India will be held from January 28 to 31.

At the curtain raiser event held in May 2025, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced the theme for Wings India 2026 as “Indian Aviation: Paving the Future from Design to Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation and Safety to Sustainability”. Highlighting the broader vision of the event, Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said that Wings India 2026 would act as a catalyst for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), including drones and eVTOLs.