Sherdils...

fatman17 · Dec 12, 2014

Sherdils

The "Sherdils" are the current Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aerobatic display team. The team consists of six K-8 jet trainers painted in overall white, red and blue colors and the team's pilots are instructors from the Pakistan Air Force Academy based at Risalpur Air Force Base. All the team's planes are equipped with white, red and blue colors smoke systems.

History

This PAF aerobatic display team was first established on August 17, 1972 flying with four Cessna T-37 "Tweety-Bird" trainers. The team's pilots were drawn from instructors at the Basic Flying Training Wing. Originally, the PAF team had no name but its creation was clearly inspired by RAF display teams. The team's founder, Sqn Ldr Bahar, had completed an exchange tour at RAF's Central Flying School.

On September 19, 1974, the team performed under the name "Sherdils" for the first time, with four red-painted T-37's.

On October 8, 1978 during practice flight, the team leader, Flt Lt Alamdar Hussain, collided in mid-air with Flt Lt Tansneem Muzzafar, whose flying slot. Following the collision the Leader's plane crashed killing his pilot. The slot pilot survived the accident. The other pilots in the diamond during the accident were Flt Lt Irfan Masum #3 Left Wing and Flt Lt Shahid Nisar #2 Right Wing.

In 1980, another two aircraft were added to the team, growing the "Sherdils" to their present six-ship formation size. In addition, the team's planes were repainted to their current color scheme - white, red and blue. Later, the team's aircraft were each equipped with smoke generators, capable of releasing red, orange and green smoke.

At the beginning of 21st century, the "Sherdils" formation sometimes expanded to nine planes, but not consistently every time that they performed.

On November 18, 2009, the "Sherdils" transitioned to the brand new China-Pakistan built K-8 Karakorum jet trainer and performed for the first time during the PAF Academy Graduation Parade. The team reverted to a six-ship formation at this point.

fatman17 · Dec 12, 2014

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.

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.

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”.

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.