Casa aircraft squadron practices parade in Hanoi sky

(VTC News) - 40 years after the parade to celebrate International Labor Day on May 1, 1985, four Casa aircraft took off again in the air parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day.

At 6:00 AM on August 8th, at Gia Lam Airport ( Hanoi ), the roar of the engines of four transport aircraft belonging to the 918th Air Force Brigade (Air Defense - Air Force Command) echoed as the pilots practiced flying parades over the capital, ready for their mission in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd.

Earlier, the technical crew and pilots arrived early to inspect the aircraft before takeoff for the mission.

Forty years after the parade commemorating International Labor Day on May 1, 1985, a formation of four transport aircraft, including one Casa-295 and three Casa-212s, once again took to the skies over Hanoi for an aerial display.

According to the plan, the Casa C-295, numbered 8901, was assigned the lead role as the squadron aircraft. The Casa C-295 military transport aircraft, numbered 8901, has a length of 24.495 m, a wingspan of 25.810 m, and a height of 8.663 m; it is considered a "workhorse" of the Vietnamese Air Force.

A few minutes later, a formation of three C-212 aircraft also took off simultaneously.

After the four aircraft were combined, the C-295 took the lead, followed by three C-212s in sequence.

The transport aircraft formation for the aerial display and parade has two takeoff options. Option 1: The C-295 takes off first, then two C-212s join the formation via the runway, and the last C-212 joins the four-aircraft formation. Option 2: The C-295 takes off first, via the runway, then three C-212s take off simultaneously.

The aircraft formed a 1-2-1 formation, maintaining the same speed and distance as they flew over the reviewing stand at Ba Dinh Square. However, the difference in speed characteristics between the C-295 and C-212 aircraft posed a challenge for the pilots during formation training.

After several hours of formation flying training, the four aircraft, including one C-295 and three C-212s, returned to Gia Lam airport and landed safely.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Quoc Hung, Squadron Commander of Squadron 3, 918th Air Force Brigade, said: "After more than a month of preparation, going through 8-10 flight formations ranging from 2-plane, 3-plane to 4-plane formations, we are ready to fully meet the criteria of the flight formation for the A80 mission. Today, the formation of 4 transport aircraft completed the takeoff, assembly, long-distance flight and runway crossing procedures, ensuring the correct altitude when passing the grandstand at Ba Dinh Square. Currently, all data is accurate, there are no problems during the flight, and we hope the weather will be favorable for us on the day of carrying out the sacred A80 mission."

Minh Duc - Hoang Minh

Vtcnews.vn

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