Blue Eagles

Associated sites:
Army Historic Aircraft Flight | The Museum of Army Flying | Army Air Corps Recruiting

Blue Eagles Team News for 2006

Blue Eagles Team News – The British Grand Prix Qualifying Day at Silverstone – 10 June 2006

or, the Long Weekend, Part Two!

The Team had flown up to RAF Cosford on Friday to base there for the weekend. On the Saturday they had another venue to go to to fly their first public display with the new Team and the new formations, and what better way to launch the new season than by opening at the British Grand Prix Formula 1 meeting at Silverstone racetrack. The sky was beautifully clear, but a gusty wind with a great deal of thermal activity made flying conditions interesting. Would it calm down by the display time? It didn’t, but that made no difference! The Team flew an excellent and accurate display in a 20 to 25 knot crosswind, as if they had been displaying all season, not flying their first! The crowd left the stands to get a better look, and at the finale, a barrage of air horns, cheers and applause told us what the crowd thought of the new display! Below are the hightlights of the display, and a few shots from the transits too and from Silverstone.

Lifting from Cosford, Stuart flies past one of the Black Cats’ Lynxes.	Forming up on the Cosford runway.

Inbound to a full and busy Silverstone circuit.	Taking off from Silverstone’s heliport to begin the display.

The Lynx lead the Team out for the first 2006 display!	Which was properly announced on the giant TV screens around the circuit.

The Team begin by running in with the Lynx in the rear….	….before performing a spectacular break with the Lynx performing a loop….

….forming a fan break across the sky.	The Lynx takes centre stage for a loop and roll….

….before the Gazelles perform a heart, and a heart stopping cross!	After pedal turns, the Gazelles cross again!

The Gazelles really add to the dynamic and exciting 2006 display!	Some of the old favorites are still in the programme, such as the Lynx breakout.

The Lynx has a much more integrated role in the new display, but is still just as manoeuvrable!	The Lynx runs out from a roll to pass between the incoming Gazelles…. who pull up of pairs pedal turns.

….who pull up for pairs pedal turns.	New for 2006 is the Gazelle carousel, centre stage and very close!

The Lynx is seldom the right way up in the 2006 display!	The finale is a Gazelle corkscrew around a backflipping Lynx. The 2006 display starts and ends with a bang!

The Team landed back at Silverstone to great applause.	That’ll be Reservoir Eagles then!

Lifting off from Silverstone in line astern.	The Silverstone circuit from above.

Turning for Cosford and the first airshow display on Sunday!	Approaching Cosford. The new museum building can be seen from many miles away.

Click here to see the cars in action in the Formula 1 Qualification sessions for the British Grand Prix.

Archived news is available by clicking here.

[ Home ]