Indonesian Aerobatic Display Teams - Elang Biru, Jupiter Blue

Prehistory

The first aerobatic display team of Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara) is formed in 1950's from Skadron Udara (Air Squadron) SkU 3, flying on P-51D Mustang planes.

In 1962 this team is replaced by a team from SkU 11, flying on MiG-17's. After a few years, the team is replaced by another from SkU 14, flying on CAC-27 Sabre (or CA-27 - an Australian variant of the North American F-86F Sabre).

In 1985 is established an aerobatic team from SkU 15 flying on BAe Hawk Mk.53, named Spirit 85.

Elang Biru (Blue Falcons)

The aerobatic display team Elang Biru is formed officially in 1995 flying on six F-16's from SkU 3 (the first squadron which formed an aerobatic team in Indonesia), but the first steps for establishment of the team, begins a year before. The first public demonstration is on 5 October 1995 during celebrations at Halim Perdanakusuma, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Armed Forces. In December that year the team's planes received special color scheme in blue and yellow colors. The first foreign debut of Elang Biru is at Singapore Airshow 1996. After a few years of existence in 2000 the team is disbanded.

Jupiter

On 23 September 1997 the new Indonesian Air Force aerobatic team is formed flying on eight Hawk Mk.53 planes from Skadik 103, named Jupiter. The team is reformed again in 2008, using 4 Korean Aerospace KT-1B Woong Bee from Skadik (Skadron Pendidikan / Training Squadron) 102, Adisutjipto AFB, Yogyakarta. The team first public show was on July 4, 2008 in Yogyakarta and their second was in Jakarta, November 2008. The team is named "JUPITER" after the call-sign of TNI AU (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara / Indonesian Air Force) instructors. The members of the Jupiter Aerobatic Team (JAT) are all instructors.

Jupiter Blue

In 2001 from the previous two teams is formed one, including three Hawk Mk.53's, one Hawk Mk.109 and two F-16's. In fact, at some airshow, the team uses different number of Hawks. Also the name of the team is merged from previous two - Jupiter Blue. All of the team's planes are painted in grey colors, while the Hawk Mk.109 is painted in brown olive colors. The Jupiter Blue Hawks are equipped with red and blue smoke generators and F-16's with white smoke generators; in despite of all planes use a white smoke pods. Unfortunately, after fatal incident on 28 March 2002 near to Iswahyudi Airbase, when two of the Hawk Mk.53's collided in mid-air killing four pilots, the last aerobatic display team in Indonesian Air Force is disbanded.

Elang Biru, Jupiter, Jupiter Blue