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)
