Sherdils
| Sherdils | |
|---|---|
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| Country: |
 Pakistan
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| Currently used aircraft type: | K-8 Karakoram |
| Sponsor: | Pakistan Air Force |
| Base airfield: | Risalpur |
| Founding: | 1972 |
| Colours: | White, red, blue |
The Sherdils (Urdu: شير دل) are the aerobatic team of the Pakistan Air Force Academy at the PAF Academy in Risalpur. The team flies nine K-8 Karakoram trainer aircraft (Chinese name Hongdu JL-8 ) and used the Cessna T-37 "Tweety" until 2010 . The pilots are instructors on the PAF Academy's Basic Flying Training (BFT) wing.
history
The team was officially formed on August 17, 1972 as a result of the efforts of the academy instructor, Sqn Ldr Bahar-ul-Haq. The team was formed on the experience of the Red Pelicans , the aerobatic team at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, where Bahar was training. The team should demonstrate the professional skills of the academy instructors and put on a short show at the graduation parades of the pilot students.
After several tests of candidates, a team was formed under the leadership of the 1965 war hero, Wg Cdr Imtiaz Bhatti. He was the commander of the Basic Flying Training (BFT) Wing at the time. The other team members were Flt Lt Aamer Ali Sharieff, Flt Lt A Rahim Yusufzai and Flt Lt Niaz Nabi, the latter becoming a long-term champion of the 'slot' position.
The team's first appearances were very successful. The Tweety birds put on their show for foreign dignitaries, including state and military officers.
Originally the team didn't have a name. The leader's personal call sign also denoted the name of the team. The team flew for the first time as "Sherdils" on September 19, 1974.
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In 2010 the Sherdils switched from the Cessna T-37 , which had practically become their trademark, to the newer and more modern Hongdu K-8 Karakoram . A trainer that was developed together with China. The first public appearance was during the PAF High Mark 2010 Exercise in April 2010. Another public display using the K-8s was during the graduation ceremony at PAF Risalpur in November 2009.
Aerobatic maneuvers
The type of demonstration has remained practically the same since the team was founded. A loop line aft, diamond formation, clover leaf, banked curve, barrel roll and finally the breathtaking bomb burst. Attempts were made to increase the number of aircraft on the team, but the engine thrust required was too high for the aircraft in the outermost formation positions. A four aircraft diamond therefore remained the basic formation of the 'Sherdil'. In 2004, the number of aircraft in the main formation was increased to six, the implementation of loops, delta formation and barrel roll and steep turns in double-arrow formation dominated the program. In 2009 the team was retrained on the K-8 aircraft of the Advanced Jet Training Squadron from PAF Academy, Risalpur. Currently, the team consists of nine aircraft, with six flying in formation and three aircraft leading the initial run and break-off in a linear bomb burst over the venue.
Coloring
In the beginning, all T-37s were painted red, but the color didn't last long without the expensive polyurethane coating. Therefore, Team used an all-metal finish again, only with the nose, wing tips and tail with bright orange marking. In 1980, with the introduction of six ex-USAF T-37s, all white and coated with polyurethane, all aircraft were painted white and given a red 'sunburst'. Later the aircraft were given a red base color with white stripes and were equipped with smoke generators for red smoke.
Accidents and incidents
On October 8, 1978 during a training session, team leader Flt Lt Alamdar Hussain had a collision with his slot man and crashed. He was awarded the Sitara-i-Basalat posthumously. He was Sword of Honor winner 54 GD (P) and the younger brother of former Deputy Chief of Pakistan Airforce Air Marshal Syed Qaiser Hussain (retired).
