IAF transport aircraft C-130J Super Hercules lands on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway during an IAF drill in Bangarmau. PTI

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, October 24

Displaying its air prowess, 16 Indian Air Force planes performed touch-and-go landings on a 4-km stretch of the Agra-Lucknow Expressway today.The unique thing about the show was the landing of a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft. As soon as the Super Hercules landed on the expressway, Garud commandos briskly got off from the aircraft on foot as well as on a Gypsy and took up positions along the expressway.This 35,000-kg transport aircraft can carry up to 200 Garud commandos. This is the first time that a transport aircraft has participated in such an air exercise in the country.The remaining 15 fighter jets touched down and took off at the same time without actually coming to a halt. Three Jaguars, two formations of three aircraft each of Mirage 2000 and two formations of three aircraft each of Sukhoi-30 performed touch-and-go landings while two Sukhoi fighter jets carried out a flypast.The finale was the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft returning for another short landing. The exercise simulates an emergency when airbases, the first target of bombings, may not be available for air operations necessitating use of highways as landing strips.