UAE aerobatics team nears readiness with new aircraft deliveries

The ten aircraft are being upgraded by Alenia at its Venegono factory and comprise six legacy MB-339As that were already in the UAE Air Force and Air Defence inventory, together with four ex-Italian air force examples.

The upgrade brings the aircraft to a similar standard to those used by the Italian national aerobatic display team, the Frecce Tricolore. The wingtip fuel tanks will usually be replaced by underwing dye tanks and smoke generators that will allow the team to produce smoke trails in the red, white, green and black colours of the UAE flag.

The aircraft are painted in a distinctive black and gold livery, with red leading edges and green white, black and red chevrons underwing.

Following the success of the Saudi Hawks team, the UAE Air Force and Air Defence decided to form its own formation aerobatic display team, to ‘wave the flag’ and to demonstrate the skills of its pilots. Six pilots formed the team initially, flying four or six camouflaged MB339s. The team made its debut in January 2010 with a fly-by at the graduation ceremony for pilots and air-traffic control students at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College, and later participated in the Al Ain air show.

From July 2010, a larger group, of eight pilots, underwent a dedicated training course at Udine-Rivolto air base in Italy, under the supervision of the Italian air force's Frecce Tricolore team. This training is expected to conclude in January 2011, after which the team will undertake further training in the UAE. The team is expected to fly as a seven-ship, with one acting as a solo. The Al Fursan display team is expected to become operational in mid 2011, according to Brigadier General Khaled Omar saleh Bahussain, the Al Fursan team director and director of training for the UAE Air Force and Air Defence.