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Blue Diamonds; PAF Aerobatic Team
Topic Started: Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:19 pm (48 Views)
Flipzi
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Wikipedia photo

The BLUE DIAMONDS

The Blue Diamonds was the national aerobatic team of the Philippine Air Force, based at Basa Air Base, in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

The team was formed in 1953 by First Lieutenant Jose Gonzalez and his air group. It first used P-51D Mustangs before jet aircraft were acquired. As the Air Force grew in popularity and strength, so did the team. The move into the jet age started in 1959, when the F-86D Sabre was acquired by the air force during its modernization. Lieutenant Lino C. Abadia was the commander at the time. It performed in the country every Aviation Week.[clarification needed] Smoke was introduced in 1958; in 1959, the team performed with the Republic of China Air Force on and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on August 1.

In 1963, in response to the United Nations request for the Philippines to contribute to a peacekeeping mission in the Congo by deploying a squadron of fighter pilots and support personnel, The Philippine Air Force created the "LIMBAS" 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Pilots from the 6th TFS and 7th TFS were reassigned to form the core of this elite Fighter squadron and as a result, the Blue Diamonds were not able to perform that year.

The team first used the F-5 Freedom Fighter in 1968.

In the 1970s, crisis came to the Republic of 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.[clarification needed] In 1986, it was reformed, when military problems were eased. In 2005, when the Air Force phased out their F-5s, the team was temporarily disbanded. At present,the Red Aces are dormant, awaiting the acquisition of modern aircraft. Among the types under consideration is the American F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Hornet, the Israeli Kfir, the French Mirage 2000 and the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen but until 2012 there no decision has been made due to the financial ability of Philippines.

Aircrafts Used

P-51D Mustang5 aircraft1953–1959
F-86D Sabers8 aircraft1959–1968
F-5 Freedom Fighter12 aircraft1968-late 2005

More http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Diamonds_(aerobatic_team)

Posted Image
Philippines AF Aerobatic Team "Blue Diamonds". By Arslan Türegün
http://www.sectionf8.com/repaints.html


Related;

F5 Freedom Fighter supersonic fighter interceptor
http://w11.zetaboards.com/NDSFP/topic/9344224/1/#new
Edited by Flipzi, Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:53 am.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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Flipzi
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credit to photo owners

VIDEO: The Blue Diamonds and Red Aces

Part 1 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202412595616274

Part 2 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202423877258308

Credits to the video and photo owners.

Related links;

F5 Freedom Fighter
http://w11.zetaboards.com/NDSFP/topic/9344224/

S211 Warrior
http://w11.zetaboards.com/NDSFP/topic/9352253/

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=430040563802891&set=a.229834423823507.1073741825.172035806270036&type=1&theater
Edited by Flipzi, Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:36 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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VIDEO: PAF Blue Diamonds Aerobatic Team 1999



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4pT6Yys40
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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P-51D Mustang

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photo credit: Jeffrey L. Efhell

P-51 Mustang in the Philippine Air Force

The main aircraft type in the earlier era of the PAF was the P-51 Mustang, flown from 1947 to 1959. Ground attack missions were flown against various insurgent groups, with aircraft hit by ground fire but none shot down. In the 1950s the Mustang was used by the Blue Diamonds aerobatic display team. These would be replaced by the jet-powered North American F-86 Sabres in the late 1950s, assisted by Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star and Beechcraft T-34 Mentor trainers.

The PAF saw its first international action in the Congo under the UN peacekeeping mission in 1960.

The Philippines acquired 103 P-51D Mustangs after World War II. These became the backbone of the postwar Philippine Army Air Corps and Philippine Air Force and were used extensively during the Huk campaign, fighting against Communist insurgents.

Mustangs were also the first aircraft of the Philippine air demonstration squadron, which was formed in 1953 and given the name "The Blue Diamonds" the following year. The Mustangs were replaced by 56 F-86 Sabres in the late 1950s, but some were still in service for COIN roles up to the early 1980s.

http://w11.zetaboards.com/NDSFP/topic/10379033/1/#new
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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Philippine Air Force F-86 Saberjets

The Philippine Air Force first received the Sabres in the form of F-86Fs in 1957. Replacing the North American P-51 Mustang as the Philippine Air Force's primary interceptor. F-86s first operated from Basa Air Base, known infamously as the Nest of Vipers where the 5th Fighter Wing of the PAF was based. Later on, in 1960, the PAF acquired the F-86D as the first all weather interceptor of the PAF. The most notable use of the F-86 Sabres was in the Blue Diamonds aerobatic display team which operated eight Sabres until the arrival of the newer, supersonic Northrop F-5. The F-86s were subsequently phased out of service in the 1970s as the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter and Vought F-8 Crusaders became the primary fighters and interceptors of the Philippine Air Force.

The most notable F-86 pilot of the PAF is Antonio Bautista who was a Blue Diamonds pilot and a decorated officer for his actions on 9 January 1974.

http://w11.zetaboards.com/NDSFP/topic/10288698/1/#new

Posted Image
Wikipedia photo: Emblem of the Philippine Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Blue Diamonds, on North American F-86 Sabre. Date 1962. Source: Own work Author Ajrakoni


Blue Diamonds and F-86 Saberjets

The team was formed in 1953 by First Lieutenant Jose Gonzalez and his air group. It first used P-51D Mustangs before jet aircraft were acquired. As the Air Force grew in popularity and strength, so did the team. The move into the jet age started in 1959, when the F-86D Sabre was acquired by the air force during its modernization. Lieutenant Lino C. Abadia was the commander at the time. It performed in the country every Aviation Week. Smoke was introduced in 1958; in 1959, the team performed with the Republic of China Air Force on and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on August 1.

In 1963, in response to the United Nations request for the Philippines to contribute to a peacekeeping mission in the Congo by deploying a squadron of fighter pilots and support personnel, The Philippine Air Force created the "LIMBAS" 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Pilots from the 6th TFS and 7th TFS were reassigned to form the core of this elite Fighter squadron and as a result, the Blue Diamonds were not able to perform that year.

The team first used the F-5 Freedom Fighter in 1968.

In the 1970s, crisis came to 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. In 1986, it was reformed, when military problems were eased.[clarification needed] In 2005, when the Air Force phased out their F-5s, the team was temporarily disbanded. At present,the Red Aces are dormant, awaiting the acquisition of modern aircraft. Among the types under consideration is the American F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Hornet, the Israeli Kfir, the French Mirage 2000 and the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen but until 2012 there no decision has been made due to the financial ability of Philippines.

Aircraft
Type Examples In use
P-51D Mustang 5 aircraft 1953–1959
F-86D Saberjet 8 aircraft 1959–1968
F-5 Freedom Fighter 12 aircraft 1968-late 2005

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Diamonds_(aerobatic_team)

Posted Image
Wikipedia photo
Description
English: Major Antonio M. Bautista, (1973) leader of the Golden Sabres, the aerial acrobatics team of the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th Fighter, Philippine Air Force. Photo was taken in 1973 at Mactan, Cebu City during an air show.
Date 28 August 2012
Source Own work
Author Ajrakoni


Posted Image
Old magazine with the Blue Diamonds on the cover page
http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=7684.15
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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the F5s

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Remembering PAF’s Awesome Blue Diamonds
by Rex Raymond Torrecampo
http://www.lifesomundane.net/2012/07/remembering-pafs-awesome-blue-diamonds.html

Posted Image
credit to aerobaticteams.net
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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