RSAF Black Knights
Encyclopedia
The Black Knights is the official aerobatics team of the Republic of Singapore Air Force
(RSAF) featuring six F-16C Fighting Falcons
in formation flight. The Black Knights emblem
is sported on the red vertical tail of each of the team's aircraft and the team's name is emblazoned on both sides of the aircraft which are painted in the national colours of Singapore
- red and white (see Figure 10 in photo gallery).
The team was commissioned in 1973 initially as the Osprey Red, five years after the creation of the RSAF and eight years as an independent nation. In 1974, the team was renamed as The Black Knights.
The Black Knights has its namesake of origin from the game of chess
where the Knight is widely regarded as the most aggressive, flexible and manoeuvrable of all the chess pieces, having both the ability to breach barriers and move in nimble and strategically important directions, thus exemplifying flexibility and precision manoeuvrability as personified by the pilots of the team during their aerial manoeuvres.
The Black Knights is also the formation insignia
of Tengah Air Base, home to the RSAF's fighter aircraft and the RSAF Black Knights.
In tandem with the technological advancements and development of the RSAF, the Black Knights progressed from flying a four-ship formation of the Hawker Hunter
s in the 1970s to a five-ship F-5E Tiger IIs team in the 1980s.
In the 1990s, the Black Knights performed in a six-aircraft formation consisting of the locally re-engined A-4SU Super Skyhawks, utilising it until year 2000 (refer to performances).
or the Red Arrows
from the Royal Air Force
, the Black Knights is not a full-time aerobatics team.
The team was formed only after the pilots and ground crew went through a stringent selection process following recommendation from their peers and senior commanding officers. To be considered for selection, each fighter pilot must have clocked at least 1,000 flying hours.
Also, other than full dress rehearsal for National Day Parade
or air shows and partly due to the limited airspace available for training in Singapore since its inception back in the 1970s, the Black Knights has frequently conducted their own training over the airspace within Singapore Armed Forces
Southern Islands Live-firing zone, which encompasses the offshore islands of Pulau Sudong
, Pulau Senang
and Pulau Pawai
(see Fig. 11 & 12 in photo gallery).
2000 was one of the first major air shows of the new millennium, this inspired plans for another six-aircraft RSAF Black Knights aerobatics team. As it was envisioned that the team would fly an all-F-16 display, four A-4SUs were added to bring the team to six when only two F-16s were available. This decision turn out to make history for the RSAF as it became the first air force in the world to combine these two aircraft types in one aerobatics team and was thus flown as such during the air show (see Fig. 1 & 2 in photo gallery).
from 19 February to 24 February 2008.
Chalit Pukbhasuk
- Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Air Force
(RTAF), the Black Knights performed in an aerial display at the Don Muang Airport, Bangkok
. This performance by the RSAF Black Knights was to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of RSAF-RTAF bilateral exercises which had begun in 1983. (See Fig. 13 in photo gallery.)
.
in 2008, it would be open to public for two days from 30 August to 31 August 2008. Also, the RSAF Black Knights are scheduled for another aerobatic display to thrill the crowds.
The new six ship formation for 2008 will consist of the following positions (all information correct as of 20 June 2008):
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
(RSAF) featuring six F-16C Fighting Falcons
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
in formation flight. The Black Knights emblem
Emblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
is sported on the red vertical tail of each of the team's aircraft and the team's name is emblazoned on both sides of the aircraft which are painted in the national colours of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
- red and white (see Figure 10 in photo gallery).
History
The Black Knights has its namesake of origin from the game of chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
where the Knight is widely regarded as the most aggressive, flexible and manoeuvrable of all the chess pieces, having both the ability to breach barriers and move in nimble and strategically important directions, thus exemplifying flexibility and precision manoeuvrability as personified by the pilots of the team during their aerial manoeuvres.
The Black Knights is also the formation insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
of Tengah Air Base, home to the RSAF's fighter aircraft and the RSAF Black Knights.
In tandem with the technological advancements and development of the RSAF, the Black Knights progressed from flying a four-ship formation of the Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
s in the 1970s to a five-ship F-5E Tiger IIs team in the 1980s.
In the 1990s, the Black Knights performed in a six-aircraft formation consisting of the locally re-engined A-4SU Super Skyhawks, utilising it until year 2000 (refer to performances).
Training
Unlike the U.S. Air Force ThunderbirdsU.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force , based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked USAF jet aircraft...
or the Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
from the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, the Black Knights is not a full-time aerobatics team.
The team was formed only after the pilots and ground crew went through a stringent selection process following recommendation from their peers and senior commanding officers. To be considered for selection, each fighter pilot must have clocked at least 1,000 flying hours.
Also, other than full dress rehearsal for National Day Parade
National Day Parade
The Singapore National Day Parade is a national ceremony in Singapore that, as its name implies, includes a parade on Singapore's National Day on August 9, in commemoration of Singapore's independence that is usually held at the Padang , the National Stadium, various decentalized venues all over...
or air shows and partly due to the limited airspace available for training in Singapore since its inception back in the 1970s, the Black Knights has frequently conducted their own training over the airspace within Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
Southern Islands Live-firing zone, which encompasses the offshore islands of Pulau Sudong
Pulau Sudong
Pulau Sudong is a 209-hectare coral island off the southern coast of Singapore, it was enlarged through a land reclamation process during the late 1970s.-Restricted area:...
, Pulau Senang
Pulau Senang
Pulau Senang is a 81.7-hectare coral island about 13 kilometres off the southern coast of Singapore. Along with Pulau Pawai and Pulau Sudong, it is used as a military training area for live-fire exercises...
and Pulau Pawai
Pulau Pawai
Pulau Pawai, also known as Alligator Island during the colonial times, is a 182,000 m² island located within the Singapore Armed Forces Live Firing Area. It is located off the southwestern coast of Singapore, between Pulau Sudong to its north and Pulau Satumu to its south...
(see Fig. 11 & 12 in photo gallery).
Performances
Asian Aerospace 2000
Asian AerospaceAsian Aerospace
Asian Aerospace is an international trade fair for the aerospace business. Currently based in Hong Kong, it was held in Singapore since 1981 until disagreements between co-organisers Reed Exhibitions and Singapore Technologies in 2006 forced its relocation from 2007.-History:Asian Aerospace was...
2000 was one of the first major air shows of the new millennium, this inspired plans for another six-aircraft RSAF Black Knights aerobatics team. As it was envisioned that the team would fly an all-F-16 display, four A-4SUs were added to bring the team to six when only two F-16s were available. This decision turn out to make history for the RSAF as it became the first air force in the world to combine these two aircraft types in one aerobatics team and was thus flown as such during the air show (see Fig. 1 & 2 in photo gallery).
National Day Parade 2000 (NDP2000)
On 9 August 2000, the RSAF Black Knights appeared during the air segment of the parade which featured a four-ship formation flight of A-4SU Super Skyhawks performing aerobatic stunts to thrill the crowds at the Padang in front of Singapore's City Hall building. This marks the last time the team uses A-4SU Super Skyhawks, the type was finally retired from front-line use in 2005.Singapore Air Show 2008
After a hiatus of almost eight years, the newly reformed RSAF Black Knights took their F-16Cs to perform aerobatic flying displays at the inaugural Singapore AirshowSingapore Airshow
The Singapore Airshow, formerly known as Changi International Airshow, is a biennial aerospace event held in Singapore starting from 2008. The event was launched as a partnership between Singaporean agencies Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Defence Science and Technology Agency after...
from 19 February to 24 February 2008.
Overseas performances
On 24 April 2008, at the invitation of Air Chief MarshalAir Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Chalit Pukbhasuk
Chalit Pookpasuk
Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookpasuk was Thai air force officer, Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, and acting chairman of Council for National Security, the junta that overthrew the government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 coup d'état.-Biography:Chalit graduated from...
- Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Air Force
Royal Thai Air Force
The Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913, as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...
(RTAF), the Black Knights performed in an aerial display at the Don Muang Airport, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. This performance by the RSAF Black Knights was to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of RSAF-RTAF bilateral exercises which had begun in 1983. (See Fig. 13 in photo gallery.)
National Day Parade 2008 (NDP2008)
As with the tradition of National Day Parades in Singapore held every year since 1966, the Republic of Singapore Air Force scheduled the Black Knights for another crowd thrilling appearance during National Day Parade, 2008National Day Parade, 2008
The National Day Parade 2008 was a national ceremony held on 9 August 2008 at the Marina Bay Floating Stadium to commemorate Singapore's 43rd year of independence. For the second time, the event was held in the Marina Bay area.-Theme:...
.
RSAF Open House 2008
The RSAF Open House is a bi-annual event which is usually held at Paya Lebar Air Base and in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Republic of Singapore Air ForceRepublic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
in 2008, it would be open to public for two days from 30 August to 31 August 2008. Also, the RSAF Black Knights are scheduled for another aerobatic display to thrill the crowds.
Pilots profile
- Flight Leader/Team Leader:
- LTCLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Leng Wai Mun (42-year old), has served with the RSAF for 23 years, flown the F-5E as well as the F-16 and logging over 2,800 flying hours on both aircraft.
- LTC
- Right WingmanWingmanA wingman is a pilot who supports another in a potentially dangerous flying environment. Wingman was originally a term referring to the plane flying beside and slightly behind the lead plane in an aircraft formation....
:- CPTCaptain (OF-2)The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
Augustine Wan (31-year old), has served with the RSAF for 10 years, flown the A-4SU as well as the F-16 and logging over 1,100 flying hours.
- CPT
- Left Wingman:
- CPT Lester John Fair (29-year old), has served with the RSAF for 10 years, flown the A-4SU as well as the F-16 and logging over 1,400 flying hours. He is also the youngest in the team at over 29 years of age.
- Slotman:
- MAJMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Tay Kok Ann (35-year old), has served with the RSAF for 15 years, flown the A-4SU as well as the F-16 and logging over 2,000 flying hours on both aircraft. Also, he was the "Left Wingman" of the Black Knights team during Asian Aerospace 2000.
- MAJ
- Lead Solo:
- LTC Philip Chionh (39-year old), has served with the RSAF for 21 years, flown the A-4SU as well as the F-16 and logging over 2,100 flying hours on both aircraft. Also, he was the "Opposing Solo" of the Black Knights team during Asian Aerospace 2000.
- Opposing Solo:
- MAJ Jeffrey Nah (31-year old), has served with the RSAF for 12 years, flown the A-4SU as well as the F-16 and logging over 1,900 flying hours.
Manoeuvres
The following is a list of aerial manoeuvres which would be showcased by the team:- Delta FlyBy (see Fig.3 in photo gallery)
- Twisted Loop
- Swan Roll (see Fig.8 in photo gallery)
- Chevron Roll
- Palm Split (see Fig.6 in photo gallery)
- Needle Cross
- Cuban
- Line Abreast Loop - Diamond Twist Cut
- Opposing Rolls
- Vertical Twist
- Way of the Dragon
- Mirror Pass
- Twinkle Roll
- Slow Speed, Afterburner Climb (see Fig.5 in photo gallery)
- Flaming Heart (see Fig.7 in photo gallery)
- Curtains (see Fig.4, 5 & 12 in photo gallery)
Aircraft operated & year appeared
- Hawker HunterHawker HunterThe Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
s - 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983; - F-5E Tiger-IIs - 1981;
- A-4SU Super Skyhawks - 1990, 1994, 2000;
- F-16A Fighting Falcons - 2000;
- F-16C Fighting Falcons - 2008.
See also
- VFA-154 Black KnightsVFA-154Strike Fighter Squadron 154 , also known as "City Dump" throughout the Vietnam War, is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The "Dumpers" petitioned to have their call sign changed in the late 1970s to the Black Knights, and were granted the change. ...
- A US Navy F/A-18E/F Super HornetF/A-18E/F Super HornetThe Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E single-seat variant and F/A-18F tandem-seat variant are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air-to-air...
equipped strike fighter squadron of the same namesake. - VMFA-314VMFA-314Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron, known as the "Black Knights", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing...
- A US Marine Corp Fighter attack squadron of the same namesake - VMM-264 - A US Marine Corp Medium helicopter squadron of the same namesake
Note
- Incidentally, LTCLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Philip Chionh who is the Lead Solo of the team is married to the SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an actress - Zoe TayZoe TayZoe Tay Hui Gek is a Singaporean actress in MediaCorp and previously a model. She is known as the Queen of Caldecott Hill, but her popularity has dipped significantly in recent years. She was previously also known as the Thousand-Faced Lady....
. - On 22 February 2008, the Black Knights flew a six-ship missing man formationMissing man formationThe missing man formation is an aerial salute performed as part of a flyover of aircraft at a funeral or memorial event, typically in memory of a fallen pilot. The missing man formation is often called "the missing man flyby"...
in a flypastFlypastFlypast is a term used in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and other countries to denote ceremonial or honorific flights by groups of aircraft and, rarely, by a single aircraft...
tribute to one of their fellow pilots - LTCLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Casey "Mongol" Tan Kum Cheng who had passed away.
External links
- Black Knights official website (FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
version) - More information on the Black Knights, pilot profiles, roll of honor, maneuvers and photos. - Black Knights official website (HTMLHTMLHyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
version) - As above. - RSAF web page on Tengah Air Base (TAB)
- Official website of Singapore Airshow
- Official website of NDP 2008 with the RSAF Black Knights