Pakistan Past Display Teams
Red Dragons
The first formation aerobatics team in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was formed by No. 9 Squadron using Hawker Sea Furies. Named the “Red Dragons”, the team performed officially for the first time in 1951 at Peshawar. The occasion was the farewell ceremony for the PAF's outgoing C-in-C, Air Vice-Marshal R.L.R. Atcherely. The “Red Dragons” thus gained the honor of being the first aerobatic team on the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent. Another team with same name was created in 1967 flying with red-painted F-86 Sabres. This newer team performed its first display on March 9, 1967.
Red Dragons Hawker Sea Fury Gallery
Paybills
In 1952, No. 11 Squadron from Drigh Road (now Faisal) Air Base, formed an aerobatic team with the unusual name “Paybills”, which was actually the squadron's call sign. The team flew Supermarine “Attacker” fighters and it was the Pakistan Air Force’s first jet aerobatic team.
Paybills Supermarine Attacker Gallery
Falcons
On February 2, 1958, a formation of 16 PAF F-86 Sabre aircraft performed a loop for the first time during an air display at Masroor Air Base at Karachi. This team was called the “Falcons”.
Falcons F-86 Sabre Gallery
Rattles and Tigers
In 1969, the “Rattles” aerobatic display team flying with Shenyang F-6 (a Chinese-built MiG-19) fighters which were painted all black was created at Sargodha Air Base. The team existed for only a few months.
In 1980, another F-6 (MiG-19) aerobatic team, known as the “Tigers”, was created at Sargodha. This team lasted a little longer than its predecessor.
