Silver Falcons The Silver Falcons is the aerobatic display team of the South African Air Force . Based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg near Cape Town , the Silver Falcons fly the Pilatus PC - 7 Mk II , the basic trainer of the SA Air Force in a 5 - ship routine . The main purpose of the Silver Falcons is to enhance the image of the South African Air Force , encourage recruitment and instill national pride through public display . History . Originally formed in 1946 as the " Bumbling Bees " and flying the T - 6 Harvard and then the de Havilland Vampire . The Bumbling Bees flew a 4 ship formation and made a name for themselves by regularly taking part in South African airshows . The team disbanded in the late 1950s leaving a gap in South African aviation . During 1966 the Aermacchi MB - 326 " Impala " arrived and the Bumbling Bees were reinstated under the command of Colonel Chris Prins . The Silver Falcons were based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg on the West Coast of South Africa , near Cape Town . The team went from strength to strength and the idea to change the name to a more bilingual sounding name came about . The Silver Falcons ( " Die Silwer Valke " in Afrikaans ) team was founded and gave their first display in November 1967 at the opening of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation . During 1986 , under the command of Commandant Dave Knoesen , the team was expanded to a 5 ship to bring about more exciting display postures and to include a solo display . The aircraft were also painted in orange , white and blue to represent the then current South African flag . The Silver Falcons operated from Langebaanweg until the early 1990s , when all the Impala training was moved to Air Force Base Hoedspruit , in the Lowveld region of South Africa , and formed part of 85 Combat Flying School . During 1994 with a new national flag , the aircraft were repainted to represent the colours of the SA Air Force : blue , light blue and white . The Silver Falcons continued to operate from Hoedspruit until in 1998 , the Silver Falcons moved to AFB Langebaanweg and commenced training in the Pilatus Astra . The decision was partly made due to the shortage of flying instructors at 85 CFS and also to display the new turbo - prop trainer to the nation . During this move , the team was once again reduced to a 4 ship . For nine years , the team flew in the standard red and white paint scheme of the Astra fleet . In 2008 , 6 of the Astras were repainted in a unique blue and white livery and the team was expanded to a 5 - ship again . Paint for the respray was donated by a local paint supplier , First African Paints . The first display in the new livery was flown at the Africa Aerospace and Defense Expo at AFB Ysterplaat in September 2008 . Aircraft . The Pilatus PC - 7 Mk II is a high performance single - engine turboprop aircraft , used by the South African Air Force for ab - initio training . It is powered by a 750 shp limited to 700 Pratt & Whitney PT6A - 25C engine and is designed for G - loadings between + 7 and −3 . 5 G , making it ideal for aerobatics . The aircraft has a tandem seat configuration with Martin Baker CH - 11A ejection seats . For all practical purposes the PC - 7 Mk II can be seen as a hybrid between the PC - 7 and the newer PC - 9 . Both these aircraft types are popular as military trainers and are in service with more than 30 air forces . Like the PC - 9 , the PC - 7 Mk II features a larger cockpit , upgraded airframe and instruments and is fitted with a ventral airbrake , but it retains the smaller engine of the original PC - 7 . Specifications Current team . The team consists of 5 display pilots , 3 support officers and 12 ground crew members . Falcon 1 is the formation leader , with Falcons 2 – 5 being the wingmen . All the team ' s pilots are serving instructors at the Central Flying School .