Blue Diamonds (aerobatic team)
| Blue Diamonds (aerobatic team) | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Country: |
 Philippines
|
| Currently used aircraft type: | Northrop F-5 |
| Sponsor: | Armed Forces of the Philippines # Air Force |
| Base airfield: | Basa Air Base |
| Founding: | 1953 |
| Colours: | Gray, red, white blue |
The Blue Diamonds were the aerobatic team of the Philippine Air Force , stationed at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca (Pampanga) .
history
The team was formed in 1953 with personnel from the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), led by 1st Lt. Jose Gonzalez stood, founded. The original equipment consisted of four North American P-51 D. The first demonstration took place on the flight day in Manila in the same year. The crew also flew the P-51 in 1954, with one of the highlights of their program being flown a slow roll with Immelmann right after take-off. At the end of 1954, the Blue Diamonds were dissolved, as many of their pilots were assigned to the United States to retrain to the North American F-86 F.
In 1957 the re-establishment took place with seven F-86F, again with the name Blue Diamonds and under the command of the 6th TFS and Captain Gonzales. In 1958 a solo pilot was used for the first time, a year later a second, so that the team could now use nine aircraft. A first comparison with foreign aerobatic teams was made in 1959, when the Flying Brothers of the Royal Thai Air Force and teams from New Zealand and Australia took part in the flight day in Manila in addition to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds .
The team had its greatest strength during the first demonstration in 1960 with a total of 16 F-86Fs under the leadership of Capt. Angel Mapua. In 1961 the formation was reduced to nine machines, supplemented by a solo pilot. In 1962, Capt. Isidro Agunod took the lead in the Blue Diamonds, which again flew with two solo pilots. After the end of the 1962 season, the team was disbanded. In 1963, in response to a United Nations request , the Philippines participated in a peacekeeping mission in the Congo . The Philippine Air Force set up the “LIMBAS” 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron for the deployment of a combat squadron and support staff. Pilots from the 6th and 7th TFS were assigned to the unit. The members of the Blue Diamonds formed the core of this elite hunting squadron. As a result, the Blue Diamonds were unable to conduct demonstrations that year. Only in 1964 did Capt. Mapu again a formation of seven aircraft plus two solo pilots. This team was also disbanded at the end of 1964.
Successors were crews of the 7th TFS ( Red Aces ) equipped with F-86s and the Golden Sabers of the 9th TFS. It was not until 1968 that the Blue Diamonds was re-established with the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. Major Rudolfo Franco, who also held this position in 1969 and 1970, took over the management of the four formation and two solo pilots.
In the 1970s, the republic fell into a crisis. But in 1971 the Blue Diamonds' sister team, the Red Aces , was re-established. In 1976 the team was disbanded because of the problems that arose. It was reactivated in 1986 when the financial situation eased. In 2005, when the Air Force retired their F-5s, the team was disbanded. Currently, the Red Aces are also disbanded, pending reactivation when modern aircraft become available. The Swedish Saab 39 Gripen are planned, but so far there has been no decision due to the financial situation in the Philippines.
fleet
- North American P-51 5 pieces, 1953-1959
- North American F-86 8 pieces, 1959-1968
- F-5 Freedom Fighter 12 pieces, 1968-2005
literature
- Manfred Leihse: Artists in the sky - the history of the aerobatic teams from 1921 to today. Motorbuch Verlag, 1989, ISBN 3-87943-908-7 , pp. 192-195.