AEROBATICS COLLECTION

In 1952, No.11 Squadron, Drigh Road (now Faisal) Air Base, formed an aerobatic team with the curious name “The Paybills”, that happened to be the squadron’s call sign. This was the PAF’s first jet aerobatic team, flying the squadron’s Attackers. The painting shows the formation flying over Manora. This team was led by F S Hussain, the renowned flyer and aerial acrobat of his time.

The first formation aerobatic team, formed by No.9 Squadron on its Furies, was called “The Red Dragons”. The painting shows the team performing officially for the first time in 1951 at Peshawar. The occasion was the farewell ceremonies for the PAF’s outgoing C-in-C, Air Vice Marshal R L R Atcherley. “The Red Dragons” thus gained the honour of being the first aerobatic team in the subcontinent.

The Jordanian T-37 aerobatic team was formed to welcome H M King Hussein at a graduation parade held at the RJAF’s Mafraq Air Base. The two words of blessings for the King were painted on two of the four T-37s for the occasion. The aerobatic team was trained in just twenty days by its Pakistani leader, Squadron Leader Shahid Nisar, who was on exchange posting in Jordan. The other pilots were – Squadron Leader A Hameed Qadri (PAF), RJAF Captain Muhammad - Al - Omari and a United States Air Force Captain Michael.

Off the coast of Karachi on a winter day, four F-86 Sabres join up in a tight “Finger Four” formation as they begin their climb for practising aerobatic maneuvers. Later in the day they would fly again, with their twelve other colleagues, in a single body of sixteen “Falcons” – the PAF’s aerobatics demonstration team – in preparation for a history-making public display on the 2nd of February. Each Sabre pilot is from a different squadron, as evidenced by the distinctive colours of his ‘checkerboard’ nose. From left to right these are: No.16, 14, 5 and 15. This mission is being led by Flight Lieutenant Hameed Anwar from No.14 Squadron.

In March 1954, Furies of No.14 Squadron flew from Peshawar to Dhaka in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) on a training flight. The painting shows the Furies passing over the river Buri Ganga (Old Ganges) that flows by the capital city.

A striking feature of this 1964 PAF aerobatic team was that five out of its nine pilots were awarded the Sitara-i-Jurat during the 1965 War. Of these five pilots, Rafiqui, Munir and Yunus attained Shahadat and M M Alam became an ace. The leader, Wing Commander Anwar Shamim, later became the Chief of the Air Staff.

“The Hashemite Diamond” was the national air display team of Jordan between 1964 - 65. It was the largest formation aerobatic team in the Middle East at the time and became well-known in the region for its impressive performances. The team was formed, trained and led by Flight Lieutenant Hameed Anwar of the PAF. The painting shows the Diamond over the historic Jerash ruins north of Amman.

2nd February 1958 was a significant day in the history of aviation as well as that of the Pakistan Air Force. On that day, for the first time a formation of 16 fighters (F-86 Sabres) performed a loop during an air display at Masroor Air Base, Karachi. The painting is partly symbolic, depicting the leading elements of the 16 “Falcons” (their call sign) taking off from the runway at Masroor. In the background is an impression of the 16 Sabres in immaculate formation as they looked after having joined up, climbing vertically for a loop. The team was led by the renowned fighter pilot and wartime leader of the Air Force, Wing Commander M Z Masud, who was later awarded Hilal-i-Jurat in the 1965 War.

In 1961, Flight Lieutenant Hameed Anwar, a young PAF Officer on exchange posting with the British Royal Air Force, brought distinction to his parent service by being selected as a member of the RAF’s official display team. Hameed, a veteran of the PAF’s own formation aerobatic team, was eagerly welcomed into the “Blue Diamonds”. The painting shows the team of sixteen Hawker Hunters performing at the Farnborough Air Show.

While on an exchange posting as a flying instructor at the RAF College in England, Flight Lieutenant Bahar-ul-Haque’s piloting skills attracted the institution to invite him to become a member of “The Cranwell Poachers” - the formation aerobatic team of the RAFC. Flying the slot position (No.4) in the Team’s BAC Jet Provosts, Bahar participated in many public displays by the “Poachers” that were put up on special days and occasions. Wing Commander J.M.A. Parker – Leader Squadron Leader W.P. Jago – Right Wing Flight Lieutenant B. Donnelly – Left Wing Flight Lieutenant Bahar-ul-Haque – Slot One especially memorable occasion during Bahar’s stay on Cranwell’s sta occurred when the RAF celebrated its Golden Anniversary. To mark that occasion, a group of handpicked pilots - Bahar among them - flew a complex formation making the figure “50” in the sky with 20 Provosts, this demonstration being repeated during the Farnborough Air Show of September 1968. Upon his return to the PAF, Bahar set up the PAF Academy’s formation aerobatic team, which later adopted the title of “The Sherdils”. After holding many important command and staff assignments with distinction and a fulfilling and distinguished career in the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Bahar-ul-Haque retired in March 1993.

The aerobatic team of black F-6s (call sign “The Rattlers”), perform over Sargodha. The team gave its last performance on 14 March 1969 when Marshal Grechko the Soviet Defence Minister visited Sargodha. Specialising in high speed aerobatics, this team was primarily formed for honing the skills of young pilots at Sargodha Air Base.

An aerobatic team of red Sabres, call sign “Red Dragons”, (the second team to carry this name) pulls up over Jamrud Fort for its last display at Jamrud range. The Chief Guest on this occasion was H M Raza Shah Pehlavi, the Shahinshah of Iran. This display was held on 9 March 1967.