Blue Eagles
The Army Air Corps’ helicopter display team: begun by Middle Wallop instructors in their spare time in 1968, it flew Sioux, Lynx and Gazelles for four decades, mostly as volunteers.
Blue Eagles: how the team came to be and what it flies today
Instructors at Middle Wallop
The team began in the spring of 1968, when instructors at the Army Air Corps centre at Middle Wallop in Hampshire started practising formation helicopter flying in their spare time. A year later it was put on a permanent footing with five Westland-built Sioux AH1, the army’s version of the Bell 47G. Although the army gave no formal formation training, the team’s reputation grew, and by 1974 its venues ranged from the Channel Islands to Scotland and Germany. The army could not, however, afford to keep it on a full-time basis and it was stood down.
Silver Eagles and the Lynx
Pilots at Middle Wallop kept the skills alive on their own time, performing under names such as the Eagles, Army Eagles and Sparrow-hawks. In 1982, the 25th anniversary year of the Army Air Corps, the team was officially re-formed as the Silver Eagles with six new Westland Lynx AH1 flown by instructors of the Lynx Conversion Flight. The aircraft kept their camouflage but carried a large Silver Eagles roundel designed by the aviation artist Wilf Hardy, and an AAC Beaver or Westland’s own demonstrator G-LYNX sometimes flew as a seventh, solo element. The team was disbanded again at the end of the jubilee year.
Gazelles and the Wilkinson Sword
A four-Lynx team appeared in 1992, but the army needed its Lynx elsewhere and could not justify the flying hours for an unofficial team. From 1993 the display was flown by four Gazelles and one Lynx, a combination that won the Wilkinson Sword at the Royal International Air Tattoo that year. In 1994 the team was allowed to take back the Blue Eagles name, though its pilots remained volunteers. The repertoire included formation flying, loops, rolls and breaks.
The end in 2010
In 2001 the team included Sergeant Julie Wiles, described as the first British female military display pilot. The Blue Eagles were disbanded in 2010, the reasons given being financial pressure and the age of the Lynx fleet, and the Army Air Corps’ display role passed to the solo Apache display team. For most of its existence the team had been flown by serving instructors and aircrew who fitted display practice around their normal duties at Middle Wallop.
Blue Eagles in numbers
The team
- Formation
- 4 to 6 helicopters
- Five Sioux in 1969
- Six Lynx as the Silver Eagles in 1982
- Four Gazelles and one Lynx from 1993
Largely a volunteer team flown alongside instructing duties.
El avión
- Flown
- Westland Gazelle AH1 and Westland Lynx
- Westland/Agusta-Bell Sioux AH1 (1969–early 1970s)
- Westland Lynx AH1 (1982; 1992–2010)
- Westland Gazelle AH1 (1993–2010)
Hogar
- Based at
- Middle Wallop
- School of Army Aviation, Middle Wallop, Hampshire
The display
- Livery
- standard army camouflage; in 1982 with a large Silver Eagles roundel on the nose
Every type Blue Eagles has flown
| Aeronave | Años | Number | Nota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westland/Agusta-Bell Sioux AH1 (Bell 47G) | 1969–1970 | 5 | Five Bell 47G-3B1 Sioux when the team was established in 1969; flown until the team was stood down in the 1970s (year not stated). |
| Westland Lynx AH1 | 1982–2010 | Six new Lynx for the Silver Eagles in 1982; four in 1992; one alongside the Gazelles from 1993. | |
| Westland (Aérospatiale) Gazelle AH1 | 1993–2010 | 4 | Four Gazelles formed the core of the team from 1993. |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver AL1 | 1982–1982 | Occasionally flew the solo seventh slot with the Silver Eagles. |
What Blue Eagles is known for
- By 1974 the team was displaying as far afield as the Channel Islands, Scotland and Germany (Wikipedia).
- Silver Eagles of 1982 marked the Army Air Corps’ 25th anniversary with six new Lynx (Wikipedia).
- Wilkinson Sword at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 1993 with four Gazelles and a Lynx (Wikipedia).
- Sergeant Julie Wiles, described as the first British female military display pilot, flew with the team in 2001 (Wikipedia, citing the British Army).
Blue Eagles, year by year
Instructors at Middle Wallop start a formation team in their spare time.
Team established on a permanent basis with five Sioux AH1.
Displays range from the Channel Islands to Scotland and Germany; the army later stands the team down for cost reasons.
Re-formed as the Silver Eagles with six Lynx AH1 for the Army Air Corps’ 25th anniversary; disbanded at the end of the year.
Team flies four Lynx.
Switch to four Gazelles and one Lynx; Wilkinson Sword at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Team allowed to resume the Blue Eagles name.
Sergeant Julie Wiles joins as the first British female military display pilot.
Team disbanded owing to financial pressures and the ageing Lynx fleet; succeeded by the Apache display team.
Everything people ask about Blue Eagles
What helicopters did the Blue Eagles fly?
Where were the Blue Eagles based?
When were the Blue Eagles disbanded?
Who replaced the Blue Eagles?
Were the Silver Eagles the same team?
Around Blue Eagles
Todos los datos, verificados
Verified 2026-10-02.