Alap-Alap Formation

Order of Battle · Display teams · Royal Brunei Air Force

Alap-Alap Formation

Kestrel Formation

Brunei’s three-ship PC-7 Mk II display team at Rimba, formed in 2011 and flown by one Bruneian and two British instructors.

2011Founded
PC-7 Mk IIAircraft
3In the display
Last reported display 2011Status
OperatorRoyal Brunei Air ForceCountryBruneiTypeFormation aerobatic teamHome baseRimba Air Force BaseStatusLast reported display 2011
The story

Alap-Alap Formation: how the team came to be and what it flies today

Kestrels at Rimba

The Alap-Alap (kestrel) Formation was formed on 7 February 2011 as the official display team of the Royal Brunei Air Force. It flies three of the air force’s four Pilatus PC-7 Mk II trainers, bought from Switzerland in 1997 and painted white, blue, red and yellow; the display aircraft carry two underwing pods for white smoke. They belong to No. 73 Squadron, formerly 63 Squadron, of No. 7 Wing’s Flying Training School at Rimba.

Three PC-7s, mixed crews

The three pilots fly under Eagle call signs. English Wikipedia says one is Bruneian and two are from the Royal Air Force, one on loan and one contracted directly, all qualified flying instructors. The team flew for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces’ 50th anniversary and was the first in Brunei to fly formation aerobatics at 500 feet.

The three pilots fly under Eagle call signs. English Wikipedia says one is Bruneian and two are from the Royal Air Force, one on loan and one contracted directly, all qualified flying instructors.Alap-Alap Formation · verified 2026-10-02
At a glance

Alap-Alap Formation in numbers

The team

Formation
3 aircraft

  • Three PC-7 Mk II
  • Eagle call signs
  • One Bruneian, two RAF pilots

Alap-alap is Malay for kestrel.

The aircraft

Flown
Pilatus PC-7 Mk II

  • PC-7 Mk II (2011–)

Home

Based at
Rimba Air Force Base

  • No. 73 Squadron, No. 7 Wing
  • Flying Training School

The display

Aircraft in the display
3
Smoke
white
Livery
white, blue, red and yellow
The aircraft

Every type Alap-Alap Formation has flown

Aircraft Years Number Note
Pilatus PC-7 Mk II since 2011 3 TUDB 302, 303 and 304 (tail codes PB, PC, PD) carry smoke pods.
Timeline

Alap-Alap Formation, year by year

1997

Royal Brunei Air Force buys four PC-7 Mk II trainers from Switzerland.

2011

Alap-Alap Formation formed.

2011

Displays for the 50th anniversary of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

Questions & Answers

Everything people ask about Alap-Alap Formation

What aircraft does the Alap-Alap Formation fly?
Three Pilatus PC-7 Mk II turboprop trainers.
Where is the Alap-Alap Formation based?
At Rimba Air Force Base, with No. 73 Squadron of the Flying Training School.
When was the team formed?
On 7 February 2011.
What does Alap-Alap mean?
Kestrel, in Malay.

Continue the tour

Around Alap-Alap Formation

The operatorRoyal Brunei Air ForceFleet, bases and order of battle of the service that flies the team.Read the Royal Brunei Air Force pageHome baseRimba Air Force BaseThe units, runways and history of the airfield the team flies from.Read the base pageDisplay teamsEvery military display teamAll the formation, solo and helicopter teams in the Order of Battle, active and disbanded.Open the list
Sources & Further Reading

Every fact, checked

Verified 2026-10-02.