Aerobatic
Teams are not solely the domain of the worlds military forces. In fact,
the earliest aerial demonstrations and formation aerobatics were performed by
private pilots, Stunt Flyers, Barnstormers, Flying Circuses and the
like.
Since then, there have been many aerobatic
teams, all over the world, operated by civilian members. Previously, such teams
would typically be equipped with smaller, propellor-driven aircraft, but in
modern times, it is not unusual to see civilian teams using ex-military jet
aircraft.
However, the one thing they all have in
common with their military counterparts, are significant running costs. To this
end, the vast majority of civilian teams rely on some form of commercial
sponsorship to survive - hence why so many of them feature product or brand
names displayed so prominently on their aircraft.
The display was presented on an area of
approximately 18 feet x 4 feet (5.8m x 1.2m) of table space, in a "two tier"
arrangement.
There are a total of 79 models on the whole display - 60 in in
1/72nd scale, 9 in 1/48th scale, 9 in 1/32nd scale - and one in 1/40th scale !!
(as indicated on the model namecards). They were built by 13 of our members.
The backboards featured actual, genuine embroidered patches from many of the
teams displayed - and more.