Blue Eagles

For other uses, see Blue Eagle (disambiguation).

This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (October 2010)

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Blue Eagles

A Blue Eagles Lynx

Active| 1968–2010
Country| United Kingdom
Branch| Army Air Corps
Size| 9 Officers/NCOs (pilots)
Garrison/HQ| School of Army Aviation
AAC Middle Wallop
Hampshire, England
Patron| British Army Air Corps, volunteer
Motto(s)| ARTE CONIUNCTI VOLAMUS
(Joined together flying)
Colors| Standard army colouring
Aircraft flown
Helicopter| 4 Aérospatiale Gazelle
1 Westland Lynx
1 Westland Apache
1 Sud Aviation Alouette
1 Westland Scout

Military unit

The Blue Eagles were the helicopter aerobatic team of the British Army Air Corps. It was one of only eight professional helicopter teams in the world, along with the Royal Navy Black Cats, Sarang of the Indian Air Force, the Scorpion aerobatic team of the Polish Air Force, Rotores de Portugal, the Patrulla Aspa of the Spanish Air Force, the Grasshoppers of the RNLAF and the US Army Silver Eagles. They were formed in the spring of 1968 by Air Corps instructors, and were established in the following years with five helicopters. In 2001, the team included the first British female military display pilot. In 2010, it was disbanded due to an ageing Westland Lynx fleet and financial cutbacks.

## History

[edit]

The Blue Eagles were formed in the spring of 1968 by instructors at the British Army Air Corps centred at Middle Wallop who practised in their spare time. One year later the team was permanently established with five Bell-47G3B1 Sioux AH1 helicopters. Despite no official formation flying training from the army, the team achieved growing success and by 1974 they were including venues as far apart as the Channel Islands, Scotland and Germany.[1] Nonetheless, the Army could not afford to maintain the Blue Eagles on a full-time basis and the team disbanded. Enthusiastic pilots at Middle Wallop were left to continue the team on their own time, and they kept the team and expertise alive. The team performed under a variety of names including the Eagles, Army Eagles, and Sparrow-hawks.

The team in 1975

In 1982 the team officially reformed as the Silver Eagles for the year of the Army Air Corps' 25th anniversary with six brand new Lynx AH1 flown by instructors from Lynx Conversion Flight at Middle Wallop. The Silver Eagles incorporated an AAC Beaver and occasionally Westland's G-LYNX into their displays for the seventh solo slot. The aircraft were in standard camouflage with a large Silver Eagles roundel, designed by aviation artist by Wilf Hardy, on each side of the nose. The team disbanded at the end of the AAC Jubilee year.

1992 saw the Eagles equipped with four Lynx helicopters which amazed crowds with their unprecedented versatility and power. However the Army needed Lynx helicopters elsewhere and could not justify the expensive flying time for an unofficial team. Thus the team adopted a configuration of four Gazelles and one Lynx in 1993. The team experienced a strong resurgence and won the prestigious Wilkinson Sword at the Royal International Air Tattoo. Following this success the team was allowed to return to the Blue Eagles moniker in 1994, though the team was still composed entirely of volunteers.

The Team Lynx, XZ647, showing the Blue Eagles logo on the nose.

In 2001, the team included the very first British female military display pilot, Sgt Julie Wiles.

The team continued to fly out of Middle Wallop and its repertoire included formation flying, loops, rolls, breaks, and many other standard aerobatic maneuvers until the team was disbanded in 2010, due to financial considerations and an ageing Lynx fleet. It was succeeded in its role by the Solo Apache Display team.

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AAC Blue Eagles.

* Red Arrows, the world-famous Royal Air Force fixed wing (plane) display team.
* Silver Eagles, the United States Army helicopter display team from 1972-1976.
* Black Cats, Royal Navy helicopter display team.
* Sarang, Indian Air Force helicopter display team
* Rotores de Portugal, Portuguese Air Force helicopter display team

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "History - British Army Website". www.army.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.

## External links

[edit]

* Blue Eagles official site
* Additional info

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Modern aerobatic teams

Military

Jet aircraft|

* FAA Escuadrón Cruz del Sur
* BAF Belaya Rus
* RCAF Snowbirds
* PLAAF August 1st
* PLAAF Red Falcon
* EAF Silver Stars
* FiAF Midnight Hawks
* FAF Patrouille de France
* HAF F-16 Demo Team Zeus [de]
* IAF Surya Kiran
* TNI-AU Thunder
* IAF Frecce Tricolori
* JASDF Blue Impulse
* KAF Sunkar
* TUDM Smokey Bandits
* PAF Sherdils
* VVS Russian Knights
* VVS Swifts
* VVS Russian Falcons
* RSAF Saudi Falcons
* RSAF Black Knights
* ROKAF Black Eagles
* SpASF Patrulla Águila
* SWAF Team 60
* ChAF Patrouille Suisse
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* TUAF Türk Yıldızları
* TUAF SoloTürk
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* RAF Red Arrows
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Propeller aircraft|

* RAAF Roulettes
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* HRZ Wings of Storm
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* IAF Aerobatic Team
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* RJ Falcons
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* TUDM Kris Sakti
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* PLF Orlik
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Rotorcraft|

* PLAGF Thunder
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* AoPLF Scorpions
* PoAF Rotores de Portugal
* SpASF Patrulla Aspa
* ChAF Super Puma Display Team
* RAF Chinook Display Team
* RN Wildcat Demo Team

Disbanded military teams

Jet aircraft|

* RCAF Blue Devils
* RCAF Golden Centennaires
* RCAF Golden Hawks
* IN Sagar Pawan
* IIAF Golden Crown
* IAC Silver Swallows
* RNLAF Solo Display Team
* PAF Falcons
* PAF Paybills
* PAF Blue Diamonds
* PLF Team Iskry
* PoAF Asas de Portugal
* PoAF Dragões
* SAF Biele Albatrosy
* UAF Falcons
* RAF Black Arrows
* RAF Yellowjacks
* RAF Red Pelicans
* RN Simon's Sircus
* USN Air Barons
* / JRV/RVSCG Flying Stars

Propeller aircraft|

* RCAF Siskins
* FAF Cartouche Doré
* RNZAF Red Checkers

Rotorcraft|

* AAC Blue Eagles
* RN The Sharks

Civilian

Jet aircraft|

* Breitling
* Baltic Bees
* Flying Bulls
* Russ
* Patriots
* Starfighters
* Polaris Ghost Squadron

Propeller aircraft|

* Flying Bulls
* WeFly! Team
* Flying Lions
* P3 Flyers
* AeroSuperBatics
* Horsemen
* Skytypers
* Aeroshell
* Lima Lima

Other|

* Flying Dragons Team

Disbanded civilian teams

Propeller aircraft|

* French Connection
* The Blades

List of air display teams

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Army Air Corps (units)

Airfields|

* Aldergrove Flying Station
* Stirling Lines
* Middle Wallop Flying Station
* Wattisham Flying Station
* RNAS Yeovilton

Regular
units|

| Brigades|

1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team

|

1 Regiment|

* No. 651 Squadron AAC
* No. 652 Squadron AAC
* No. 659 Squadron AAC
* No. 661 Squadron AAC

3 Regiment|

* No. 669 Squadron AAC
* No. 662 Squadron AAC
* No. 663 Squadron AAC

4 Regiment|

* No. 654 Squadron AAC
* No. 656 Squadron AAC
* No. 664 Squadron AAC

5 Regiment|

* No. 665 Squadron AAC

Army reserve units|

| 6 Regiment|

* No. 675 (The Rifles) Squadron AAC
* No. 677 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron AAC
* No. 679 (The Duke of Connaught's) Squadron AAC

|

Training
units|

| 2 (Training) Regiment|

* No. 668 (Training) Squadron AAC
* No. 671 Squadron AAC
* No. 676 Squadron AAC

|

7 (Training) Regiment|

* No. 653 Squadron AAC
* No. 673 Squadron AAC

9 Regiment|

* No. 670 Squadron AAC

Other|

* No. 660 Squadron AAC (No. 1 Flying Training School RAF)
* Apache Display Team

Independent squadrons|

* No. 658 Squadron AAC (Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing)

Former display units|

* Army Historic Aircraft Flight
* Helicopter Display Team (Blue Eagles)

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