Black Eagles aerobatic team The 53rd Air Demonstration Group , nicknamed Black Eagles , is the flight display team of the Republic of Korea Air Force based at Wonju AB , Gangwon Province . The ROKAF Aerobatic Team was operated in various occasions of national ceremonies and this has been fully encouraged and supported by the nation . The permanent team was initially formed on December 12 , 1994 and flew six Cessna A - 37B Dragonfly airplanes . The team was disbanded temporarily after the 2007 and has been reformed upon the arrival of their new T - 50 Golden Eagle aircraft which were delivered in 2010 . History . The Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team has operated in various occasions of national ceremonies and at international air shows . The original display team was formed on October 1 , 1953 and operated four F - 51 Mustang s . In October , 1956 a new display team the T - 33A Show Flight Team was formed . On October 1 , 1959 a new display team was formed . This team was called the Blue Sabre and they flew four F - 86 Sabre jet airplanes . This team was disbanded in 1966 . In 1967 , a new display team , the Black Eagles , was formed . It operated between 1966 through 1978 and flew seven Northrop F - 5A Freedom Fighters . From 1966 to 1969 the aircraft were F - 5As . Flying was suspended from 1970 to 1972 , and from 1973 to 1978 the aircraft used were RF - 5As . In 1978 the team was disbanded in order to enhance defense preparedness . The full - time aerobatic team , the Black Eagles , was re - established as the 2nd flight of the 238th Fighter Squadron , the 8th Fighter Wing on December 12 , 1994 and flew six Cessna A - 37B Dragonfly airplanes . On April 1 , 1999 the flight was detached from the 238 FS , and became the 239th Aerobatic Flight Squadron . After the Seoul Air Show in 2007 , The Black Eagles team was temporarily disbanded on October 31 , 2007 for transitioning to their new T - 50 Golden Eagle . The farewell flight mission was directed by Gen . KIM Eun - gi , Air force Chief of Staff on October 10 , 2007 . The reformation was scheduled for 2010 , but ahead of schedule in time , the Black Eagles was re - establishment on August 2009 , and performed an air show to fly over Seoul on September 23 , 2009 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the ROKAF . On July 1 , 2012 the Black Eagles was awarded the Boeing Trophy for best display at the 17th Waddington International Air Show . On July 8 , 2012 , the Black Eagles were awarded the King Hussein Memorial Sword , for the Best Overall Flying Demonstration and the As The Crow Flies Trophy at the awards ceremony of the Royal International Air Tattoo , on their first appearance at the airshow . On April 1 , 2013 , the squadron was authorized to expand to an independent group level , the 53rd Air Demonstration Group , including the 239th squadron and its dedicated maintenance flights , was established under the direct control of the ROKAF Headquarters . Now the Black Eagles are not commanded by the 8th Fighter Wing , but the group is still based at Wonju AB alongside its ex - parent unit and supported by the wing ' s logistics and support units . Aircraft . T - 50 characteristics . The Black Eagles ' T - 50B is painted in yellow , white , and black . It is equipped with an internal smoke generation system which creates a thick smoke trail . The aircraft has a higher G - limit tolerance over the original T - 50 trainer due to a redesign geared for aerobatic maneuvers and utilization of a fly - by - wire system . The T - 50B is currently the only supersonic trainer jet equipped with a state of the art avionics system . With the introduction of the T - 50 series ( T - 50 , T - 50B , TA - 50 , FA - 50 ) , the Republic of Korea became the 12th nation in the world to produce supersonic aircraft via indigenous technology . Smoke . The thick smoke trails of Black Eagles aerobatic team are made by releasing diesel and oil into the exhaust nozzle ; this mixture immediately oxidizes , leaving a white smoke trail . There are two smoke tanks in the aircraft , each designed to carry about 60 gallon of smoke oil . The smoke system can control the quantity of oil released , so each aircraft can trail smoke for seven to twenty minutes . Maneuver . Black Eagles group demonstrates organized teamwork and sophisticated flight skills . The display is composed of about 30 aerobatic maneuvers . The team has a total of eight aircraft in formation . Formations with 4 ~ 8 aircraft usually show grandeur and sophistication at the same time . One to four plane maneuvers show thrills and excitement . During an aerobatics display , pilots experience forces up to 4 to 5 g ' s , and when performing the aerobatic maneuver ' max turn and loop ' , forces up to 8 g ( the structural limit of the aircraft ) .