Hyderabad: Hundreds of people in Hyderabad were treated to a spectacular air show on May 10 as frontline aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) displayed daredevil acrobatics.

The hour-long event, held at the picturesque Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city, enthralled people as state-of-the-art fighter jets including the latest acquisition, Russian built Sukhoi-30 MKIs, showcased the country's mighty air power.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy said the Air Force offers a window of career opportunities combining avionics, engineering and electronics besides flying and combat skills.

"We want to show the other side of technology today. It has a combination of IT, engineering and electronics, engine technology material.

You name it; we have the foremost technology like you saw the Sukhoi-30 or Jaguar. So we want to promote here people who are so much involved in technology, we have much of research and development institutions here.

We have the first class universities here. So, therefore we would like to present here our machines that are really hi-tech, which has got so many other things. So we want to show people that Air Force today represents technology and we are just not looking at the air force, we are also looking at an aerospace power," Krishnaswamy said.

The show began with three Chetak helicopters, carrying the tricolour and the IAF flag, dropping flower petals on the gathering.

The highlights however, were the magnificent manoeuvre by Sukhoi- 30s, and the daredevil acrobats, Surya Kirans.

The nine-aircraft team is named as Surya Kiran after the crimson and yellow colours released by indigenously built Kiran MK-II aircraft.

Formed in 1996, the Suryakiran is one of the very few nine- aircraft acrobatic teams in the world. Armed with an impressive display sequence, the team has dazzled crowds all over the country. A mock combat held between MiG-29 and Su-30 and the impressive arrowhead formation by the Jaguars came a close second on the popularity meter.

People also enjoyed the breathtaking sky jumping from a height of 8,000 feet by nine paratroopers of "Akash Ganga" (Galaxy).

For most people it was a first of its kind experience and the hour-long show, which saw the aircraft making some of the most difficult formations like the Wine Glass and Diamond, left them asking for more.

"It is a great pleasure for people of Hyderabad city to see this beautiful air show. And I wish all young men should join Air Force," said Jaya Reddy.

"I feel very happy and I enjoyed very much. It is fantastic. The SU-30 went very fast," said Anita.

The Indian Air Force took off as a tiny fleet with four Westland Wapiti Army co-operative by-planes, six RAF (Royal Air Force) trained officers and 19 Hawai Sepoys in 1932.

Today it is the fourth largest Air Force in the world with a highly technical and specialised fighting force.

The last decade of the 20th century has seen a phenomenal change in the structure of the Indian Air Force with induction of state- of-the-art aircraft like MiG and Sukhoi fighter Jet range.

ANI