Active 1953 – 2005 Size varies per season Branch Philippine Air Force | Country Philippines Founded 1953 | |
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Role Aerobatic flight display team Base Basa Air Base,
Floridablanca, Pampanga, Philippines 1953–2005 Fighter 1953-1955 P-51D Mustang
1957–1967 F-86F Sabre
1968-2005 F-5A Freedom Fighter Similar Philippine Air Force, Royal Brunei Air Force, Snowbirds, Belarusian Air Force, Yugoslav Air Force | ||
Blue diamonds aerobatic team
The Blue Diamonds was the national aerobatic team of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), based at Basa Air Base, in Floridablanca, Pampanga.
Contents
History
Formed in 1953 by First Lieutenant Jose Gonzalez the Blue Diamonds first used P-51D Mustangs growing in popularity and strength, along with the PAF. The move into the jet age started in 1959, when the F-86F Sabre was acquired by the air force during its modernization. Lieutenant Lino C. Abadia commanded the team at the time of transition to the F-86, performing in every annual Aviation Week. Smoke was introduced in 1958 and on 1 August 1959, the team performed at a Republic of China Air Force air-show with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds .
In 1963, in response to the United Nations request for the Philippines to contribute to a peacekeeping mission in the Congo by deploying a squadron of fighter pilots and support personnel, The Philippine Air Force created the "LIMBAS" 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Pilots from the 6th TFS and 7th TFS were reassigned to form the core of this elite Fighter squadron and as a result, the Blue Diamonds were not able to perform that year.
The Blue Diamonds changed mounts in 1968, transitioning to the F-5 Freedom Fighter.