Silver Falcons
Encyclopedia
The Silver Falcons is the aerobatic display team of the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...

. Based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg
AFB Langebaanweg
AFB Langebaanweg is an airbase of the South African Air Force.The base motto is Tenax Propisiti Vinco – Through Tenacity Comes Success.- Units Hosted :* Central Flying School - Pilot and Instructor Training* 2 Air Servicing Unit - Technical Support...

 near Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

, the Silver Falcons fly the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra, the basic trainer of the SA Air Force in a 5-ship routine. The main purpose of the Silver Falcons is to enhance the image of the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...

, encourage recruitment and instill national pride through public display.

History

Originally formed in 1946 as the Bumbling Bees and flying the T-6 Harvard
T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...

 and then the de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...

. The Bumbling Bees flew a 4 ship formation and made a name for themselves by regularly taking part in South African airshows. The team disbanded in the late 1950s leaving a gap in South African aviation.

During 1966 the Aermacchi MB-326 "Impala"
Aermacchi MB-326
The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...

 arrived and the Bumbling Bees were reinstated under the command of Colonel Chris Prins. The Silver Falcons were based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg on the West Coast of South Africa, near Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

. The team went from strength to strength and the idea to change the name to a more bilingual sounding name came about. The Silver Falcons ("Die Silwer Valke" in Afrikaans) team was founded and gave their first display in November 1967 at the opening of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation.

During 1986, under the command of Commandant Dave Knoesen, the team was expanded to a 5 ship to bring about more exciting display postures and to include a solo display. The aircraft were also painted in orange, white and blue to represent the then current South African flag.

The Silver Falcons operated from Langebaanweg until the early 1990s, when all the Impala training was moved to Air Force Base Hoedspruit, in the Lowveld region of South Africa, and formed part of 85 Combat Flying School
85 Combat Flying School SAAF
85 Combat Flying School is a unit of the South African Air Force. It is currently a jet flight-training and combat operations school. The school also has a wartime reserve role, although it has publicly been stated that the school will not be used operationally unless a very urgent need arises.*...

. During 1994 with a new national flag, the aircraft were repainted to represent the colours of the SA Air Force: blue, light blue and white.

The Silver Falcons continued to operate from Hoedspruit until in 1998, the Silver Falcons moved to AFB Langebaanweg
AFB Langebaanweg
AFB Langebaanweg is an airbase of the South African Air Force.The base motto is Tenax Propisiti Vinco – Through Tenacity Comes Success.- Units Hosted :* Central Flying School - Pilot and Instructor Training* 2 Air Servicing Unit - Technical Support...

 and commenced training in the Pilatus Astra. The decision was partly made due to the shortage of flying instructors at 85 CFS and also in order to display the new turbo-prop trainer to the nation. During this move, the team was once again reduced to a 4 ship. For nine years, the team flew in the standard red and white paint scheme of the Astra fleet.

In 2008, 6 of the Astras were repainted in a unique blue and white livery and the team was expanded to a 5-ship again. Paint for the respray was donated by a local paint supplier, First African Paints. The first display in the new livery was flown at the Africa Aerospace and Defense Expo at AFB Ysterplaat
AFB Ysterplaat
Air Force Base Ysterplaat is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is located in Cape Town, on the southwestern coast of South Africa.The name Ysterplaat is Afrikaans; it means Iron Plate in English....

 in September 2008.

Aircraft

The Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra is a high performance single-engine turboprop aircraft, used by the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...

 for ab-initio training. It is powered by a 750 shp limited to 700 Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25C
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 is one of the most popular turboprop aircraft engines in history, and is produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The PT6 family is particularly well known for its extremely high reliability, with MTBO's on the order of 9000 hours in some models. In US military use, they...

 engine and is designed for G-loadings between +7 and -3.5 G, making it ideal for aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...

. The Astra has a tandem seat configuration and is fitted with two Martin Baker CH-11A
Martin-Baker
Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of ejection seats and safety related equipment for aviation. The company origins were as an aircraft manufacturer before becoming a pioneer in the field of ejection seats...

 ejection seats.

For all practical purposes the Astra can be seen as a hybrid between the PC-7 Mk I and the newer PC-9. Both these aircraft types are extremely popular as military trainers across the globe and are in active service in more than 30 air forces. Like the PC-9, the Astra features a larger cockpit, upgraded airframe and instruments and is fitted with a ventral airbrake, but it retains the smaller engine of the PC-7 Mk I.

Specifications
  • Wing span — 10.19 m
  • Length — 10.13 m
  • Max Operating Speed — 300 knots (555 km/h)
  • Maximum Mach Number — Mach 0.6
  • Maximum Operating Altitude — 25 000 ft (7 622 m)
  • Stalling Speed (Clean) — 75 knots (139 km/h)
  • Stalling Speed (Landing Configuration) — 65 knots (120 km/h)
  • Minimum Speed For Ground Level Ejection — 65 knots (120 km/h)

Accidents and incidents

  • 16 April 1988 - Capt Kobus Griesel ejected from an Aermacchi MB-326 Impala
    Aermacchi MB-326
    The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...

     after his engine caught fire during a display at Franschhoek.
  • 2 October 1993 — During an airshow at Lanseria Airport
    Lanseria Airport
    Lanseria International Airport is a privately owned international airport that is situated north of Randburg and Sandton to the north west of Johannesburg, South Africa. The airport can handle aircraft up to the Boeing 757-300 and Airbus A319.-History:...

    , Falcon 5 crashed during a low-level solo display sequence. Capt Charlie Rudnick ejected moments after structural failure caused the right wing of his Impala Mk I to separate from the fuselage, but was killed on impact.

Current Team

The team consists of 5 display pilots, 3 support officers and 12 ground crew members. Falcon 1 is the formation leader, with Falcons 2-5 being the wingmen.
All the team's pilots are serving instructors at the Central Flying School
Central Flying School SAAF
The Central Flying School is a flight school of the South African Air Force. It is currently an ab initio flight training school. The unit was formed as the central point of flying training after closure of all Air Force flying schools in South Africa...

and practise Silver Falcons displays as an over-and-above task.

Team 70

Falcon 1: Maj Scott Ternent (Leader)
Falcon 2: Capt Roy Sproul
Falcon 3: Capt Buti Tsebe
Falcon 4: Capt Gerhard Lourens
Falcon 5: Maj Nico Frylinck (Soloist)

Ancillary Members:
Ground Liaison Officer: Capt Heybrech van Niekerk
Public Relations Officer: 2Lt Brian Goldschmidt

Team 71

Falcon 1 - Capt Roy Sproul (Leader)
Falcon 2 - Capt Heybrech van Niekerk (first female member)
Falcon 3 - Capt Buti Tsebe
Falcon 4 - Capt Gerhard Lourens
Falcon 5 - Maj Beau Skarda (Soloist)


Team 72

Falcon 1 - Maj Roy Sproul (Leader)
Falcon 2 - Capt Heybrech van Niekerk (first female member)
Falcon 3 - Lt Jacques Poolman
Falcon 4 - Capt Gerhard Lourens
Falcon 5 - Maj Beau Skarda (Soloist)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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