Suryakiran aerobatic team, Mark Jefferies Global Stars to light up Hyderabad skies at Wings India 2026

Hyderabad is set for a high-octane aerial spectacle as the Suryakiran aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Mark Jefferies Global Stars aerobatic team from the United Kingdom prepare to perform at Wings India 2026. Short aerobatic displays will be held from January 28 to 31 at Begumpet Airport, promising four days of precision flying and dramatic sky choreography.

The Suryakiran aerobatic team, widely known as the ‘Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force’, is the only nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia. Flying the distinctive red-and-white Hawk Mk-132 jets, the team is known for its tight formations and synchronised manoeuvres that reflect the precision and professionalism of the IAF.

“ From the graceful loop and the thrilling barrel roll to the gravity-defying inverted flying and the crowd-favourite DNA manoeuvre, every performance will showcase the pilots’ unmatched expertise and coordination,” a member of the team said.

Adding an international dimension to the flying display will be the Mark Jefferies Global Stars aerobatic team. Speaking to The Hindu, a member of the UK-based team said India has become a familiar and much-loved destination for the pilots, who have been performing in the country since 2014.

Mark Jefferies Global Stars aerobatic team ready for Wings India 2026 at Hyderabad’s Begumpet Airport.
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“We have been to India in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024 and now 2026,” he said, underscoring the team’s long-standing association with Indian air shows.

The team will feature Mark Jefferies as team leader, along with Chris Burkett, Peter Wells and Chris Heames. They will fly the Extra 330SC, a high-performance aerobatic aircraft known for its agility and precision, making it a preferred choice for advanced display flying.

Describing their routine, the team member said the display is compact and features their trademark “dotty” smoke effect. During the performance, the pilots will draw two hearts more than 1,000 feet high in the sky. The act will also include a dramatic sequence in which two aircraft separate before executing a series of opposition crosses, closing in at speeds exceeding 400 miles per hour.