Blue Diamonds (aerobatic team)

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for the Royal Air Force acrobatic team see No. 92 Squadron RAF

The Blue Diamonds is the primary aerobatic team of the Philippine Air Force. It was known throughout the world and praised by many.^{[citation needed]} It is the main counterpart the Blue Angels of the USN and the Thunderbirds of the USAF. It is based in Basa Air Base, in Pampanga.

1 History
2 Aircraft
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

The team was organized in 1953, by 1Lt. Jose Gonzalez and his group. The team first used P-51D as their first planes, even jet aircraft was used by the Air Force. As the Air Force grew its popularity and strength, the team was also growing. In 1959, they used the F-86D when the Air Force was modernized. Lt. Lino C. Abadia was the group commander of the team. They performed in the country every Aviation Week. Smoke was introduced in 1958, and in 1959, the team performed with the Republic of China Air Force in August 1 and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. In 1963, the team did not perform, because most of the team's pilots were members of the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron or the Limbas Squadron, and they were called to Congo for a United Nations peacekeeping activity. The team continued to perform in 1965, and they used the F-5 Freedom Fighter in 1968.

In 1970's, crisis came into the Philippines. But in 1971, the sister team of the Blue Diamonds, the Red Aces was formed. In 1976, the team was disbanded because of the problems that came about. But in 1986, they were revived again, when military problems were eased out. In 2006, when the Air Force phased out their F-5 jets, the team was temporarily disbanded. Presently, the Red Aces are now dominant, but the team still hoped that the government will buy certain new and advanced fighter aircraft like the American F-16 Fighting Falcon & F/A-18 Hornet , Israeli Kfir, French Mirage 2000 or the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen.