Pride of Pakistan JF-17 Thunder and Turkey’s Air Force aerobatic team win hearts of Pakistanis
The pride of the Pakistan JF-17 Thunder and the special appearance of Solo Turk – the famous Turkish Air Force aerobatic team – alongside Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets, won the hearts of Pakistanis at the annual military parade.
The event is held on March 23 but was rescheduled for March 25 this year due to rain and inclement weather in Islamabad.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi and senior government and top military officials attended the event. Prime Minister Imran Khan could not attend as he is in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. Military dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UK and Sri Lanka, also attended the parade.
Formations of fighter jets including F-16, JF 17, Mirage, AWACs, C-130 and P-3C Orion participated in the Pakistan Day flypast. It was followed by the flypast of helicopters.
Mechanized columns including tanks, armored personnel carriers, rocket launchers, air defense system, Radars, indigenously built UAVs and short and long-range missiles Ra’ad, Nasr, Babar, Ghaznavi and Shaheen I and III were showcased on the occasion.
Sky divers of the forces including the paratroopers of Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine, Srilanka and Turkey also exhibited free fall, carrying their national flags.
JF-17 and Solo Turk steal the show
The formations of JF-17 Thunder and Sherdils (PAF Aerobatic Team) stunned the audience with their stellar performances.
The Solo Turk performance was the highlight of the ceremony that on the hearts of millions of Pakistanis with their spectacular maneuvers, demonstrating deep friendship and string ties shared by Pakistan and Turkey.
Turkish military band wearing the traditional Ottoman-style attire surprised the crowd by playing “Dil Dil Pakistan Jan Jan Pakistan” song.
Performance by Solo Turk: