Bengaluru: Amid the roar of jet engines and the collective gasp of an awestruck crowd, IAF’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) has been painting a perfect heart, about 500 football fields big, in the sky, a symbol of love, unity, and sheer brilliance of aerial artistry, for the past two decades.
The heart drawn by the Surya Kiran jets is about 6,000-ft tall and as much wide. As it has been over the years, this breathtaking manoeuvre has enthralled spectators even this year and it’ll do so for the last time this edition on Friday, Feb 14, celebrated across the world as Valentine’s Day.
As intricate as the move is, it is demanding, Gp Capt Ajay Dasarathi, the commanding officer of the 14-member team, told TOI. “The heart shape is universally recognised as a symbol of love, affection, and romance. And what better day it can be to display heart than Valentine’s Day,” he said.
Creating a heart shape with two aircraft is an incredibly challenging and complex maneuver! “It is done by two members (No 8 & 9) splitting vertically up and turning left/right by 90° and meeting again downwards at -30° pitch. The piercing (cupid’s arrow) is done by No 6 once the heart is complete,” he said.
The aircraft must perfectly be synchronised in terms of speed, altitude, and direction to create the heart shape. The pilots must have exceptional flying skills and precision to maintain the exact formation and shape.
The Magic Process
The magic begins high above, as the radio crackles to life with the call: “Pulling up now.” At this precise moment, the two aircraft climb sharply, their movements synchronised to the millisecond. The shape of the heart is not just a matter of skill; it demands absolute control over speed, turn radius, smoke deployment, and perfect radio coordination. Every slight miscalculation could mean an imperfect form, but in the hands of these masters, the sky becomes a canvas of perfection.
As they reach their designated altitude, another crisp call follows: “Smoke, Split, Go.” The aircraft burst apart in a controlled divergence, curving away in mirrored arcs to create the upper halves of the heart. The sky blooms with their trails, forming an elegant outline.
The final touch comes at the lower tip, where they pull downward, converging gracefully to complete the heart’s base. At just the right moment, the command “Smoke cut” rings out, and the pilots shut off their smoke trails, leaving behind a flawless, floating heart in the sky.
But the show isn’t over yet. Enter No 6—the ace who brings the drama. Watching intently, he waits for the perfect moment before plunging through the heart in a daring, high-speed maneuver. For an added theatrical effect, he briefly cuts his smoke, creating the illusion of a piercing arrow through the heart. The crowd erupts in applause, enthralled by the romance and precision of the performance.
Crowd Favourite
A perennial crowd favourite, the heart is more than just an aerobatic feat—it’s a gift from the Surya Kiran to the people below. It holds special meaning on Valentine’s Day, drawing cheers from lovers and laughter from children, whose first question is always, “Who made the heart?”
Somanath from Banashankari, said the SKAT performance was his Valentine’s Day gift to his wife Beena. “Best gift ever and a memorable Valentine’s Day,” said Beena.
“I’ve come here with my partner. Our favourite stunt was the heart and Cupid…How cute can this get? We made the right decision to come here on Valentine’s week,” Amulya from Chandra Layout said.
Dasarathi said for “No 8 & 9, there’s no greater joy than knowing they have inspired the dreams of the young, painting the sky with the poetry of flight.
On asking how their own families react to the heart, he said: “That’s a sweet question! When family members see a heart shape, they are delighted and amazed: ‘Wow, It’s a heart!’ And at times, they are surprised, and wonder: ‘How did they do that?’.”
(With inputs from Hamsaveni N)