An Cosantóir

35 FORMATION FLYING predecessor, the de Havilland Vampire. The early Fouga forma- tion teams trained and "worked-up" sensibly from a 3 and 4-ship flypast to a 3 and 4-ship aerobatic display-ready team over the first ten years of service of the aircraft, with the 1st official public display of the newly branded "Silver Swallows" 4-ship aerobatic display team taking place in 1987 for the 65th Anniversary of the Irish Air Corps at the Air Spectacular in Baldonnel. From and prior to its inception, the Silver Swallows and previous Fouga displays were designed to take advantage of the jet's char - acteristics. The display was constructed to maintain the aircraft in front of the crowd as much as possible with smooth formation changes, coupled with dynamic manoeuvres and breaks, spread throughout the routine. The team gained recognition at home and abroad and there is no doubt were highly successful in promoting the Air Corps, Ireland and its aviation professionalism externally while inspiring pride amongst potential recruits and serving De - fence Forces personnel internally. The Silver Swallows continued to exist for the following 10 years with the final of many highlights being the 1997 display season where the team displayed at the Air Corps 75th Anniversary Families' Day and other Irish and European Air Shows. Without doubt, the greatest decoration and achievement of the team was winning the much-coveted Lockheed Martin Cannestra Trophy for the Best Display by an Overseas Performer at the Royal Interna - tional Air Tatoo, RAF Fairford in 1997. With the retirement of the Fouga in 1998, formation flypast and limited display flying, continued on other platforms within the Air Corps. However, the brand of the Silver Swallows, like the Fouga jets, did not fly anymore. The delivery of the PC-9M in 2004 saw a modern turboprop trainer replace the SIAI Marchetti SF260 fleet as well as the Fouga Magister fleet. This aircraft afforded the Air Corps to train the next generation of pilots on a very capable and modern platform, in terms of systems and avionics. The aircraft continued the tradition of air weapons and combat training, secondary to pilot and instructor pilot training. In addition to these core taskings, the Flying Training School (FTS), as the Squadron operating the new PC-9Ms took up the mantle of ceremonial flypast and display flying. In a similar fashion to the early days of operating the Fouga, PC-9M crews built steadily, year on year with straight and level formation, flypast to wingover formation manoeuvres to formation aerobatics. The addition of an internal smoke generat - ing system came as a welcome addition in 2016 for the centenary of the 1916 rising and has been utilised ever since for ceremonial and display occasions. I mentioned the 1997 season as being a highlight above, in one way for a selfish reason, in addition to the achievements of the Silver Swallows team. I was lucky enough to be present at the Air Display in Baldonnel for the 75th Anniversary of the Air Corps and it's fair to say that I was affected in a very positive way; by seeing Irish jets flown by Irish military pilots to the highest standard of aerobatic display flying. If I had previously had a feint idea of what career I would consider in the future, it was cemented for me after that specific event! It is, therefore, with great personal and professional pride that I have been afforded the honoured position of leading the Irish Air Corps PC-9M aerobatic display team in this, our Centenary year. To add to the honour, 2022 will see the nationally and internation - ally recognised brand of the Silver Swallows relaunched for this PC-9M display team. While we may not have the iconic V-shaped "swallows" tail, we have built a formation display for this season playing tribute to our heritage and roots in Irish military aviation. The team consists of pilots and technicians from the FTS, assist- ed by all other operational and support elements of the Air Corps. Without completely spoiling the show, the ethos of the Silver Swallows will be very much to the fore from the technical support to the flying display in 2022. The original concept of a safe, graceful display of 4-ship formation aerobatics coupled with dynamic manoeuvres interspersed throughout, all maintained within close proximity of the display axis, were key to our planning and preparation of the 2022 display season. It is every member of the teams wish to continue the story of the Silver Swallows as ambassadors to Ireland and Irish aviation heritage, commemorat - ing the past, celebrating the present and inspiring the future. PC-9Ms Box Formation from No 4 Eucharistic Congress 1932 Inverted from No 4 Box Formation Loop PC-9M

• Cover