| Black Arrows Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team |
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|---|---|
Sixteen Hunters of the Black Arrows perform aerobatics at the Farnborough Air Show, England. |
|
| Active | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Aerobatic flight display team |
| Garrison/HQ | |
The Black Arrows, one of the predecessors of the current Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, were an aerobatic demonstration team formed in the 1950s from 111 Squadron (treble-one). One of the many memorable feats accomplished by the Black Arrows was the execution of a 22-plane formation loop in 1958 at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors' show at Farnborough[1] This was a world record for the greatest number of aircraft looped in formation, and remains unbroken to this day.
The Black Arrows flew Hawker Hunters and were based at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk. Prior to this the Black Arrows were actually formed at RAF North Weald. It was only later that they were transferred to RAF Wattisham.
| Airplane | Number | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Hawker Hunter | 4 | 1955 — 1956 |
| 5 | 1956 — 1958 | |
| 9 | 1958 — 1960 |