Silver Falcons to get new colour scheme?
Date: 11 April 2008
Report by Dean Wingrin
After eight years of flying the PC-7 Mk 2 Astra in the standard SAAF colour scheme, it appears that the Silver Falcons aerobatic team aircraft may gain new colours.
The aerobatic team performed their first display using the Astra during the 1999 display season. Although their previous mount, the Impala Mk I, was painted in special colours, the Astra retained its standard SAAF colours of red and white.
The Astra is quieter than the jet-powered Impala and the team felt that colour was needed to make up for the lack of sound. Thus, the team is in the final process of obtaining approval from SAAF HQ to repaint the aircraft. Three different schemes have been short listed, but the basic design is a white aircraft with silver flowing markings. The vertical fin in each design features a stylised SA flag, similar to that of South African Airways.
The team may also make use of the opportunity to increase the number of display aircraft from four to five.
