Silver Falcons New Colours

The eagerly awaited new colour scheme for the Silver Falcon aerobatic team was unveiled at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show at AFB Ysterplaat on the 16th of September.

Amid smoke and lasers, the curtains were pulled, revealing the new colour scheme, consisting mainly of dark blue with a stylised Falcon in white. The tail has a South African flag on it. The assembled dignitaries were very pleasantly surprised as the new colours are very distinctive.The team are also kitted out in new flying suits and when the ground crew were introduced to great applause they were also clothed in their new uniforms.

The Team also made use of the occasion to announce that the number of display aircraft was being increased from four to a five ship display.The new team which will literally last for the weekend will be team 67 Maj Nico Frylink at (No5) Capt. Du Toit Deetliefs (No 4). Maj. Alex Macphail (No 3) Capt. Guy du Sautoy (No 2) and Maj. Scott Ternent (No 1)

This team( 67 )would do all of the displays until Sunday morning when Alex MacPhail would fly his forty fifth and last display with the Falcons. Then team 68 would be formed with LT.Buti Karima Tsebe taking number three and closing the Airshow with his first Falcon display.I watched and filmed most of the displays and we can all be very proud of the team. The transition from Alex to Buti was very smooth indeed and we wish Alex and Sandy all the best in Pretoria and the new career with SAA.

Congratulation Silver Falcons, fly well at Mafikeng this weekend and to Buti i send my very best.

Smoke On Go

Major Alex van Oostveen exits the number one aircraft after flying his 110th display. Silver Falcon team 65 flew possibly one of the smoothest displays even under very windy conditions.

On the 12th March a parade was held at AFB Langebaanweg this was to officially change the number one and number four position of the Silver Falcon's. The parade was started off by a display by team 65 led by Alex. On completion the team landed and parked in front of the audience and exited the aircraft and formed up, Col. J.W.Mienie SM. MMM, then gave a synopsis of Alex van Oostveen's time with the Silver Falcons , first as number three and then as the leader.
Here Alex hands the number one position to Captain Scott Ternent who was team 65's number four.
It was then the first official flight of team 66 with Scott in number one ( lead ) and Capt Du Toit Deetlefs taking up the number four position.They gave a precision display while Maj.Alex van Oostveen and the Colonel observe the sequence.
From L to R New number 1 Cpt Scott Ternent, Col.Mienie, Maj.Alex van Oostveen, Capt.Guy Du Sautoy, Maj. Alex MaCphail and the new number four Capt Du Toit Deetlefs and Lt.Col.Van Zyl.
Maj.Alex van Oostveen and the ground crew.
Astra number one prior to shut down
This was Du Toit Deetlefs being checked out by the other pilots for any nerves before his first display as number four in the Silver Falcons.
This also was the end of the filming of the new documentary on the Silver Falcons. It is being called Smoke On Go the call the number one makes to activate the smoke system during a display.I am hoping to launch the film in time for the Margate Air Show.
For any queries regarding the film please feel free to send me and email at andschofield@gmail.com





http://www.ictel.co.za/8702

The Silver Falcons

A new documentary.


SMOKE ON GO!!!

The New documentary on the silver falcons will be launched soon.
This is a film that follows team 65 for a full explanation of how the team function. Not just the pilots but the Ground liaison officer Buti Tsebe and the ground crew led by Sgt Major Jaco Smit better known as Smitty. An explanation of the preparation and planning that goes into an Air Show display sequence. How the sequence is flown and structured to give the public the best view. The film gets behind the scenes of the Falcons and shows their dedication and commitment to the South African Air Force. It also shows a personal side to the men who fly in close formation. The footage from inside the cockpit for the sequence gives the viewer a perspective of what it is like to fly an aerobatic sequence within metres of the other aircraft.
















It is 40 years since the first formally named aerobatic team the Silver Falcons was formed, before that in the early fifties 35 Squadron had a three ship display of Harvard’s that was linked by ribbons, this practice was soon dropped as at one of the displays a comment was made to the fact that it was easy to fly in formation as the ribbons held the formation

The Pilatus PC 7 MkII Astra was introduced to the Air Force in 1994. In addition to instructor shortages at 85 Combat Flying School, it was decided The Silver Falcons would be the ideal way to display this new aircraft to the public. In 1998 the team was reformed using the air force basic trainer and returned to its orginal home at the Central Flying School, Air Force Base Langebaanweg in the Western Cape.

The Silver Falcons returned to a 4 ship display and the aircraft retain the same white and red paint scheme as all SAAF Pilatus Astras. The only different insignia on the Silver Falcon aircraft is the large team numbers painted on the vertical stabilisers. A new paint scheme is due to be released soon, so standby for its arrival.

All the team members are experienced full-time flying instructors. Membership is voluntary and new members are selected by means of a “fly-off” between volunteers and current team members. The Silver Falcons are different from other world aerobatic teams because flying for the team is an over-and-above task. Members do most of their practising after their normal working ours. Instructional sorties with student pilots and student instructors are their main job.

The team leader plans the execution of manoeuvres and monitors the speed and height of the formation. He also synchronises the 4th aircraft’s solo show with that of the 3-ship. Therefore, he is responsible for the team’s safety. The rest of the team is responsible for maintaining the specific formation posture the formation leader requires.

The Silver Falcons are known for the exceptionally high quality of their shows. To maintain this standard is a matter of absolute dedication and professionalism. Since the team’s inception, 89 South African Air Force pilots have flown for them. Team 64 had the opportunity to complete the 500th successful show at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo in Cape Town. Another milestone is coming up shortly, this year, 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of The Silver Falcons

TEAM 65

Maj Alex van Oostveen

Capt Guy Du Sautoy

Capt Alex MacPhail

Capt Scott Ternent

We have just finished a very detailed documentary on the Silver Falcons. The Silver Falcons are the South African Air Force’s Aerobatic This four ship display fly’s the Astra PC-7 aircraft out of Air Force Base Langebaanweg, on the West coast of South Africa near Vredenburg about 140 km north of Cape Town.[Photo] This is the third completed documentary in the Black Eagle Projects aviation series. The first two being the Avro Shackleton , Airshow South Africa, and now Smoke On Go, this is the term that the number one or lead uses to instruct the formation to put on the smoke generator which pumps a fine spray of diesel onto the hot exhaust causing a trail of smoke which really enhances the aerobatic display. Smoke on go, has been very interesting to make, highly demanding as the Silver Falcons are made up of absolute precision demanding instructor pilots who insist on the highest standard of airmanship from themselves and those around them. Being a Silver Falcon is an over and above job as the members are all instructor’s at the Central Flying School, and spend their days giving instruction to Student pilot’s and student instructors. This shows the level of dedication that is needed to become a Silver Falcon.

Lt Buti Tsebe (Ground Liaison Officer)