On Sunday morning, at around half past nine, the roaring sound of aircraft was heard in the sky first... and then, within moments, nine aircraft appeared together, drawing thousands of eyes towards them. In the blink of an eye, the aircraft descended, turned rapidly, and then climbed back into the sky. Moments later, trails of smoke painted the Tricolor across the sky. When the aircraft formed a heart shape at around 100 feet, the New Integrated Township reverberated with applause and chants of ‘Jai Hind’. Sunday was the second day of the air show by the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team.Organized under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, the air show also gave fresh impetus to the Yogi government’s initiative to connect the state's youth with the resolve for nation-building, discipline, and a developed India. Amid the aerobatics, the venue continuously reverberated with applause and chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’.On the second day of the air show organized under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, the crowd was several times larger than on Saturday. The Air Force presented an aerial display filled with excitement and valor for around 30 minutes. With every maneuver, chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ echoed through the atmosphere. The Hawk Mk-132 aircraft, which took off from Hindon Airbase, displayed such coordination that spectators’ eyes seemed fixed on the sky for a while.On several occasions, two aircraft were seen flying together at extremely close range. At times, the aircraft rapidly descended and rose again at the same speed, while at other times, two aircraft appeared to cross each other head-on. As soon as this spectacle unfolded, an involuntary cry escaped from the people present on the ground, followed moments later by thunderous applause.A different kind of enthusiasm for the air show was visible among children and youth. Some kept pointing toward the aircraft with their hands, while others kept their mobile cameras pointed toward the sky. Children said the aircraft were performing aerobatics so rapidly that they couldn't take their eyes off them. Many children witnessed such a display in person for the first time and said that the performance inspired them to learn more about the Air Force and do something for the country.Union Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth was the chief guest at the air show program on the second day. He said the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team has showcased the capabilities of the Indian Air Force through its performances across the country and around the world for nearly 30 years. He said the display in the sky was not merely about excitement, but also a demonstration of courage, valor, patience and discipline. Such events inspire youth to join the Army and Air Force and serve the nation.Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee said that the Surya Kiran performance in Meerut was an encouraging opportunity for the youth. He said Army soldiers protect the country’s borders under the most difficult circumstances. At the same time, the skills demonstrated by Air Force pilots in the sky show another dimension of India’s military strength. Programs of this kind inspire youth to join the armed forces.Minister of State Dr. Somendra Tomar said that the Army is a matter of pride for every Indian. Meerut is the land of revolution, and the people’s association with the Army has always been visible here. He said that youth are the future of the country and their participation is important in building a developed India.During the program, Legislative Council members Dharmendra Bhardwaj and Ashwani Tyagi, DIG Kalanidhi Naithani, District Magistrate Dr. VK Singh, CDO Nupur Goyal, SSP BBGTS Murthy, ADM City Brajesh Kumar, District Information Officer Sumit Kumar, along with officers and employees of other departments and a large number of members of the public, were present.Three pilots associated with Meerut also played a role in the Surya Kiran display. Squadron Leader Aman Goyal and Squadron Leader Rahul Singh flew the aircraft, while Squadron Leader Sharad Goyal took charge of conducting the display from the ground. As soon as spectators learned about the presence of local pilots, their enthusiasm increased further.People from the city and surrounding areas had started arriving since morning to watch the air show. Many children and young people arrived with their families. The administration deployed additional police personnel for security and traffic management. Despite this, vehicle pressure increased suddenly after the program ended. A queue of vehicles stretched for around two kilometers on the surrounding roads. Many people could not reach the venue and watched the aerobatics in the sky while standing along the way.The brief traffic jam did halt the journey of people returning with memories of the show captured on their mobile phones, but the excitement of the air show remained visible on their faces for a long time.The air show's excitement was visible across all age groups. Children appeared the most thrilled. As soon as they heard the roar of the aircraft, children pointed towards the sky and showed the aircraft to one another. When two aircraft crossed each other from an extremely short distance, several children simultaneously exclaimed, ‘Oh...’. Thunderous applause followed the very next moment.Student Aviral said excitedly, “‘When both aircraft approached each other, it seemed that something was about to happen, but the pilot turned the aircraft so quickly that we could only watch in amazement.”Student Ananya said, “I did not want to miss even a single maneuver. As soon as an aircraft appeared, I would raise my mobile phone. When the Tricolor was formed, I genuinely felt very happy. At that moment, I even forgot to record a video and simply kept looking at the sky.”Saurabh said, “I had previously seen aircraft only on television and in videos, but when I saw them flying at such a height right in front of me today, it felt as if a film was playing. The most enjoyable moment was when all the aircraft turned together.”
