Inspired by Cranwell

The Sherdils (“Lion Hearts”) were formed on 17 August 1972 at the PAF Academy, Risalpur. The idea came from academy instructor Bahar-ul-Haq, who had seen the Red Pelicans of RAF College Cranwell while on exchange. The first team, under Wing Commander Imtiaz Bhatti, flew Cessna T-37 trainers at a graduation parade. It flew under the Sherdils name for the first time on 19 September 1974. The pilots are instructors from the academy’s Advanced Jet Training Squadron, and they fly displays alongside their training duties. On 8 October 1978 the team lost an aircraft and its pilot, Flight Lieutenant Alamdar, in a practice accident.

The Tweety Birds

The T-37s, nicknamed Tweety Birds, lacked the thrust for a larger formation, so for almost three decades the team flew a four-ship diamond. It grew to six aircraft in 2004 and to nine on 2 October 2004, though the outer T-37s struggled to hold position. The team wore several schemes: overall red, then bare metal with day-glo orange, then a red and white sunburst on ex-USAF aircraft acquired in 1980.

Nine K-8Ps

In 2009 the team moved to the Hongdu K-8P Karakorum, a trainer developed jointly by China and Pakistan. The first four-ship display, under Squadron Leader Aamer Misbah Ahmad, was flown at Risalpur in November 2009. It became seven aircraft by spring 2010 and nine by the May 2010 graduation. In November 2010 the team flew at the Zhuhai air show in China. On 14 August 2017, Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day, it revealed a green and white livery with the national crescent and star on the fin and underside, together with better smoke and a commentary and music for the crowd.