Silver Falcons
| Silver Falcons | |
|---|---|
|
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| Country: |
 South Africa
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| Currently used aircraft type: | Pilatus PC-7 |
| Sponsor: | South African Air Force |
| Base airfield: | Langebaanweg Air Force Base |
| Founding: | 1946 |
| Colours: | White, red, green, blue, black |
The Silver Falcons (German: "Silberfalken") are the aerobatic team of the South African Air Force . It is stationed at Langebaanweg Air Force Base near Cape Town . The Silver Falcons fly the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II, the basic training aircraft of the SA Air Force, in a formation of five. The primary purpose of the Silver Falcons is to "represent the South African Air Force, promote recruitment and convey national pride through public display".
history
The Silver Falcons were originally founded as the Bumbling Bees with the North American T-6 in 1946. After that flew Bumbling Bees the de Havilland Vampire DH.100 . They flew a formation of four and made a name for themselves by regularly taking part in South African air shows. The team was disbanded in the late 1950s.
In 1966 the Aermacchi MB-326 "Impala" was switched to and the Bumbling Bees were reactivated under the command of Colonel Chris Prins. The team was stationed at Langebaanweg Air Force Base . It was now referred to as the Silver Falcons and in Afrikaans as The Silwer Valke and made its debut under that name in November 1967 at the opening of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa . Under the command of Commander Dave Knoesen, the team was expanded to five aircraft in 1986. The planes were painted orange, white and blue to represent the South African flag of the time. The Silver Falcons were stationed in Langebaanweg until the early 1990s, when all Impala training was relocated to Hoedspruit Air Force Base in the Lowveld region of South Africa. It formed part of the 85 Combat Flying School . In 1994 the planes were repainted in the colors of the new South African Air Force emblem , blue, light blue and white.
The Silver Falcons were stationed in Hoedspruit until 1998. Then they returned to AFB Langebaanweg and retrained to the Pilatus PC-7 “Astra”. The reasons were the lack of flight instructors for the 85 CFS and the desire to show the new turboprop aircraft publicly. During this time the team was reduced to a four aircraft formation. For nine years, the team flew in the standard red and white color scheme of the PC-7 "Astra" fleet. In 2008, six of the PC-7 “Astra” were repainted in a blue and white pattern and the team expanded again to a group of five. The first demonstration in the new livery was flown at the Africa Aerospace and Defense Expo at Ysterplaat Air Force Base in September 2008. These Silver Falcons aircraft are equipped with a smoke system.
team
The team (as of 2015) consists of five display pilots, three support officers and twelve ground crew. Falcon 1 is the callsign of the leader, Falcons 2–5 of the remaining pilots. All pilots on the team serve as instructors at the Central Flying School.
Accidents and incidents
- April 16, 1988 - Captain Kobus Griesel made an ejection seat exit from an Aermacchi MB-326 Impala after its engine caught fire during a demonstration in Franschhoek .
- October 2, 1993 - During an airshow at Lanseria Airport, the Falcon 5 crashed during a low-level solo. Captain Charlie Rudnick made an ejection seat exit after a structural failure of the right wing of his Impala Mk I from the fuselage. However, he was killed when he hit the ground.
Web links
- Silver Falcons Official Website (English)