A fleet of seven helicopters is training intensively at Hoa Lac Airport in Hanoi, preparing to join a ten-aircraft formation that will tow the Communist Party of Vietnam and national flags for the 80th National Day celebration on September 2.
At 6.30 am on July 28, a Mi-8 helicopter lifted off from the runway at Hoa Lac Airport, soaring into the sky on a meteorological reconnaissance mission to gather data in support of training operations (Photo by Thanh Dong).
About an hour before the Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters took off, the technical crew swiftly moved into position, meticulously checking all systems from electronics and engines to fuel levels to ensure each aircraft was in optimal and safe condition (Photos by Thanh Dong and Do Ngoc Luu).
Aircraft formations were refuelled and supplied with power and compressed air, ready for training missions (Photo by Thanh Dong).
All seven helicopters took off simultaneously, beginning rehearsals for a flag-towing display.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hoang, Deputy Political Commissar of Air Regiment 916, said that for him and the officers and soldiers assigned to the A80 mission, it was both an honour and a great responsibility.
Though the complete A80 formation has yet to take shape, pilots and crew have been mastering each flight manoeuvre according to pre-planned scenarios, laying a vital foundation for the upcoming complete formation rehearsal (Photo by Do Ngoc Luu).
According to the official plan, the aerial display will feature four formations, three groups of three helicopters and one solo, flying in an arrowhead formation with the party flag and the national flag soaring over Ba Dinh Square (Photo by Thanh Dong).
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hoang noted that the mission faces challenges due to Hanoi’s dense high-rise landscape, requiring precise and scientific flight planning. Unpredictable weather is also a concern, so contingency plans have been prepared early (Photo by Thanh Dong).
Throughout the morning, helicopter formations completed three consecutive training flights over Hoa Lac Airport and its surrounding areas, maintaining steady and well-coordinated formations (Photo by Do Ngoc Luu).
