Blue Eagles

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For other uses, see Blue Eagle (disambiguation).

**Blue Eagles**
Country:	United Kingdom
Aircraft Currently Flown:	4 Gazelle and 1 Lynx
Sponsor:	British Army Air Corps, volunteer
Base Airport:	Middle Wallop
Colours:	Army colouring
Date Formed:	Spring of 1968

The Blue Eagles are one of three professional helicopter aerobatic teams in the world, the Royal Navy Black Cats and Sarang of the Indian Air Force being the other. The team was 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 helicopters. Despite no official formation flying training from the army, the team achieved growing success and had their first international appearance in 1974. 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.

In 1982 the team briefly officially reformed as the Silver Eagles for the Army Air Corps' 25th anniversary. During this time the team flew the Bell/Augusta, the Aérospatiale Gazelle, the Westland Lynx, and the Westland Scout helicopters and occasionally even incorporated fixed-wing aircraft into their displays.

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 its current 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 is still composed entirely of volunteers.

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

The team continues to fly out of Middle Wallop and its repertoire includes formation flying, loops, rolls, breaks, and many other standard aerobatic manoeuvres.

In 2007, the Blue Eagle Lynx helicopter (Eagle Lynx) performed a solo display at the Red Bull Air Race over the River Thames, London which included a full rendition of its usual manoeuvres along with some never seen before. A video compilation made by this author showing the training for this display can be seen at the following link: RedBull Lynx on YouTube Video