Black Arrows

RAF Wattisham
RAF North Weald

Military unit

The Black Arrows, one of the predecessors to the current Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows, were an aerobatic demonstration team formed in 1956 by Squadron Leader Roger L.Topp, then Commanding Officer 111 Squadron ("treble-one"). One of the many memorable feats accomplished by the Black Arrows was the execution of a world record loop of 22 Hawker Hunters in formation at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors' show at Farnborough in 1958.^[1] This was a world record for the greatest number of aircraft looped in formation, and remains unbroken to this day. After the loop the Black Arrows performed the world's first 16 aircraft barrel roll. Roger Topp handed over the lead of the Black Arrows to Squadron Leader Peter Latham in late 1958. Latham expanded the size of the team to nine aircraft from the original five and led the Squadron for two years.

No. 111 Squadron was formed at RAF North Weald where they received the Hunter before moving to RAF Wattisham in Suffolk. Until 1961, the Black Arrows were the RAF's premier team. In the early years of the 1960s the "Blue Diamonds" of No. 92 Squadron RAF (also flying Hunters), "The Tigers" of No. 74 Squadron RAF, equipped with the new English Electric Lightning, the "Red Pelicans" flying BAC Jet Provosts, and the "Yellowjacks" flying Folland Gnats formed. The large number of squadron display teams later rationalised to a single unit from the Central Flying School.

Aircraft used

Aeroplane	Number	Period
Hawker Hunter	4	1955–1956
	5	1956–1958
	9	1958–1960

List of Leaders

1956–1958: Roger Topp
1958–1960: Peter Latham

Notes and references

^ "Treble One's Twenty-Two"

External links

Videos of the Black Arrows' last show, in Barcelona, accessed on 5 November 2022
- Royal Air Force website, accessed on 5 November 2022
  - Royal Air Force website - see Red Arrows History, accessed on 5 November 2022
    - Black Arrows history at RAF website through the Internet Archive

Modern aerobatic teams

military
jet aircraft	FAA Escuadrón Cruz del Sur BAF Belaya Rus RCAF Snowbirds PLAAF August 1st PLAAF Red Falcon EAF Silver Stars FiAF Midnight Hawks FAF Patrouille de France HAF F-16 Demo Team Zeus [de] IAF Surya Kiran IN Sagar Pawan TNI-AU Thunder IAF Frecce Tricolori JASDF Blue Impulse KAF Sunkar TUDM Smokey Bandits PAF Sherdils VVS Russian Knights VVS Swifts VVS Russian Falcons RSAF Saudi Falcons RSAF Black Knights ROKAF Black Eagles SpASF Patrulla Águila SWAF Team 60 SAF Patrouille Suisse ROCAF Thunder Tigers TUAF Türk Yıldızları TUAF SoloTürk UAEAF Al Fursan RAF Red Arrows USAF Thunderbirds USN Blue Angels
propeller aircraft	RAAF Roulettes FAB Esquadrilha da Fumaça TUDB Alap-Alap Formation FACh Halcones PLAAF Sky Wing HRZ Wings of Storm TNI-AU Jupiter TNI-AL Neptunus IAF Aerobatic Team JMSDF White Arrows RJ Falcons FAM Escuadrilla Cuauhpopoca RMAF Marche Verte TUDM Kris Sakti RNZAF Black Falcons PLF Orlik SAAF Silver Falcons SAF PC-7 Team RTAF Blue Phoenix
rotorcraft	PLAGF Thunder VVS Berkuts IAF Sarang TNI AU Dynamic Pegasus AoPLF Scorpions PoAF Rotores de Portugal SpASF Patrulla Aspa SAF Super Puma Display Team RAF Chinook Display Team RN Wildcat Demo Team

disbanded military teams
jet aircraft	RCAF Blue Devils RCAF Golden Centennaires RCAF Golden Hawks IIAF Golden Crown IAC Silver Swallows RNLAF Solo Display Team PAF Blue Diamonds PLF Team Iskry PoAF Asas de Portugal PoAF Dragões SAF Biele Albatrosy UAF Falcons RAF Black Arrows RAF Yellowjacks RAF Red Pelicans RN Simon's Sircus USN Air Barons / JRV/RVSCG Flying Stars
propeller aircraft	RCAF Siskins FAF Cartouche Doré RNZAF Red Checkers
rotorcraft	AAC Blue Eagles RN The Sharks

civilian
jet aircraft	Breitling Baltic Bees Flying Bulls Russ Patriots Starfighters
propeller aircraft	Flying Bulls WeFly! Team Flying Lions P3 Flyers AeroSuperBatics Horsemen Skytypers Aeroshell Lima Lima