Silver Falcons History
The first aerobatic team of the South African Air Force (SAAF) is formed in 1953 under the name Bumbling Bees and flies with four T-6 Harvard airplanes. The team is from Flying School at Langebaanweg airbase and later transit to de Havilland Vampire FB Mk.9 jets. The idea of the team's creation belongs to Flying School commandant Chris Prins, who became team's first leader. The team exists till 1967, when the Flying School and all Vampire planes are removed to Pietersburg airbase. Later this school became 85th Advanced Training Flying School. At this time the Langebaanweg's school became Central Flying School.
In 1966 the Central Flying School receives the new Aermacchi MB326 Impala Mk.I training jets, built at South African Atlas Aircraft Corporation under license from Aermacchi. Then the commandment of the School decides to establish a display team flying whit the new jet planes. The first public demonstration of the new team is at the opening ceremony of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation on 24 November 1967. Then they receive its name Silver Falcons (Silwer Valke in Afrikaans). The leader of the team is again Chris Prins. The planes are in aluminum silver colors with orange painted nose and equipped with white smoke generators.
In 1985 the team receives new color scheme in silver, white, orange and blue with yellow number from 1 to 4.
In 1988 to the team is added fifth solo plane.
On 2 Oct 1993 during airshow in Lanseria airport, #5 plane crashed after structural failure. Pilot ejected seconds before impact to the ground, but the parachute goes into crash fireball killing pilot.
In 1994 the Silver Falcon's planes colors changed again in silver, blue, white and light blue. Receiving its sixth plane the team performs on 6 May at the Nelson Mandela presidential induction ceremony in six-ship formation.
In 1995 SAAF celebrate 75th anniversary and the team is relocated to the 85th Combat Flying School at Hoedspruit airbase. At the end of that year Silver Falcons are disbanded.
In 1999 the team is reborn again under the Col. Dave Knoesen pressure, from Central Flying School at Langebaanweg, but this time flying with four Pilatus PC-7 Mk2 Astra airplanes (built in South Africa under license of Pilatus). The color scheme is standard red and white with tail numbers. The planes are equipped with white smoke generators. All pilots and ground crew are from Central Flying School.
On 16 Sept 2008 the team's planes receives the new and for the first time special color scheme. Also the fifth demonstration plane is added to the team. Silver Falcons perform in this new painting at Cape Town Air Show at 17-21 September. (see photos in Siver Falcons Gallery)
