Indian Air Force (IAF) rehearse for the 'Wings Over Ganges' air show over the Ganga river, in Varanasi. (image credit: IAF)
Varanasi will host the Indian Air Force’s ‘Wings Over Ganges’ aerial display on October 25, bringing together fighter aircraft, helicopters, transport planes and aerobatic teams for a series of performances over the Ganga as part of the service’s 94th anniversary celebrations.
This is the fifth time the IAF is holding a flypast outside the national capital region. The parade and the flypast used to take place at Palam Air Force Base till 2005, then the venue changed to Hindan, in Ghaziabad in UP. The IAF Day parade still takes place at Hindan, but the flypast has moved away from NCR under the Prime Minister's directive. Varanasi is the fifth location of this grand aerial spectacle. Previously, the event has taken place in Guwahati (2025), Chennai (2024), Prayagraj (2023) and Chandigarh (2022).The event, planned at Namo Ghat, will feature nine specially named formations and displays involving aircraft from different generations of the IAF fleet. The formations will include ‘Kashi’, ‘Varun’, ‘Kedar’, ‘Hanuman’, ‘Sarnath’, ‘Omkar’, ‘Ganga’, ‘Prachand’ and ‘Dashashwamedh’. 94 aircraft will participate in the aviation programme to mark 94 years of the IAF. This will include the Su-30MKI, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage 2000, Tejas and MiG-29, alongside helicopters such as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, Advanced Light Helicopter, Apache, Chinook, Chetak and Mi-17 V5.
Transport and support aircraft, including the C-17 Globemaster, C-130, C-295, AN-32, IL-76, IL-78 and P-8I of the navy will fly over the historic city.The ‘Kashi’ formation will see three Kiran aircraft fly in a V-shaped pattern, while the ‘Varun’ formation will feature Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III aircraft. A Rafale fighter will perform a low-level display under ‘Kedar’, while the Su-30MKI will feature in the ‘Hanuman’ formation.
The ‘Sarnath’ segment will showcase a vintage Harvard aircraft performing precision manoeuvres.The ‘Omkar’ formation will involve three Mi-17 V5 helicopters carrying the national flag and the IAF flag. Chetak helicopters will feature in the ‘Ganga’ formation, which is expected to include a flower-petal shower over the riverfront. In the ‘Dashashwamedh’ formation, a C-17 Globemaster will lead nine Hawk aircraft from the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team.The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) will perform coordinated aerobatic manoeuvres, including loops, barrel rolls, inverted flying and the DNA formation, using saffron, white and green smoke trails. The Sarang Helicopter Display Team will demonstrate synchronised flying and formation changes. Both teams are among the key attractions of the programme.The ‘Prachand’ formation will bring together the Su-30MKI, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage 2000, Tejas and MiG-29 in an arrow-shaped arrangement.
The indigenous Tejas fighter is also expected to feature in a solo display. Aircraft from the army and navy will also participate, highlighting coordination among the three services.The aerial programme is intended to showcase the IAF’s flying skills, operational capabilities and technological progress, while familiarising residents and young people with military aviation. Rehearsals have been held over Varanasi ahead of the main display, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend.