Halcones
| Halcones | |
|---|---|
Halcones
|
|
| Active | 1981 – present |
| Country | Chile |
| Branch |
 Chilean Air Force
|
| Role | Aerobatic flight display team |
| Size | 5 Aircraft |
| Colours | Withe, Red, Blue |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Trainer | Extra 300 |
Escuadrilla de Alta Acrobacia Halcones ("Hawks High Aerobatics Squad"), known simply as the 'Hawks' (Halcones), is an active group of nine officers of the Chilean Air Force who are trained specifically for aerobatics. One of the Halcones' signature moves is recreating the Chilean flag in the air using smoke. The team may be likened to the British Royal Air Force's Red Arrows for their affinity for complex, high-risk, aviation-based manoeuvers.
The team flies aircraft models. The Halcones have held demonstrations in Ecuador, Brazil, United Kingdom, Belgium, United States, Canada, Israel, France, Peru and Bolivia, among others.
The Halcones was formed on January 14, 1981 as the Escuadilla de Alta Acrobacia "Halcones," equipped with four Pitts Special aerobatic biplanes, although the team later increased to five aircraft. The Air Force acquired models S-2A and S-2S (for the plane alone). This agile biplane, which is American-made, is powered by a 200 hp Lycoming engine. The S-2S is powered by a 260 hp engine.
The Halcones used the Pitts for about 400 events in their home country and abroad. During these years, the notoriety of the pilots grew in Chile, and resulted in many invitations to international events, such as the following:
The last presentation made with these planes was on February 25, 1990.
The Air Force, aware of the new and advancing aeronautic technology, decided to replace the Pitts for a new plane: the Extra 300.
This German-produced monoplane-wing media is powered by a Textron Lycoming engine of 300 hp. 2700 rpm 6-cylinder and 3-propeller wood blades covered with carbon fiber. The two-seater plane is built from 60% composite materials and 40% metal, and features a load factor and G + 10 - 10 G, roll rate of 360 ° per second, maximum weight 950 kg. The plane was designed to make various aerobatic maneuvers, but can only sustain 4 minutes of inverted flight.
The squad made approximately 400 presentations with the Extra 300 planes in Chile (from Arica to Punta Arenas, as well as Easter Island) and abroad. The "Halcones" presentations during this time resulted in numerous invitations to perform, such as the following:
The last presentation made by the Extra 300 plane was on May 13, 2012.
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Wikipedia