Arpía 51
Colombia’s attack-helicopter display team flies stripped-down AH-60L Arpía Black Hawks through loops and vertical manoeuvres rarely seen with the type anywhere else.
Arpía 51: how the team came to be and what it flies today
Black Hawks from a combat group
Arpía 51 is drawn from Combat Group 51 at Air Combat Command No. 5, Rionegro, near Medellín, and its attack squadron, whose AH-60L Arpía gunships are the Colombian variant of the Black Hawk. Helicopter aerobatic demonstrations began in 2006 and the team was formally established in 2011, with its own manuals, crews and procedures. At F-AIR Colombia in July 2011 three Arpías performed aerobatics in public for the first time.
La pantalla
The team now flies two AH-60Ls. For displays each aircraft sheds about 4,000 lb of weapons, armour and mission systems, bringing it from about 20,250 lb to around 16,000 lb. Each crew is two pilots and two technicians. Signature manoeuvres include the near-vertical Arpía climb, the Tibelina hammerhead, inverted crossings and a finale fired with flares. It is a regular at F-AIR, held at Rionegro’s José María Córdova airport, including the 2023 and 2025 editions.
Arpía 51 in numbers
El equipo
- Formación
- 2 helicopters
- Two AH-60L Arpía
- Four crew per helicopter
- Three helicopters flew at F-AIR 2011
El avión
- Volado
- Sikorsky AH-60L Arpía
- Sikorsky AH-60L Arpía (2011–)
Hogar
- Con sede en
- Rionegro Air Base (CACOM 5)
- Combat Group 51, Air Combat Command No. 5, Rionegro, Antioquia
La pantalla
- Aviones en exhibición
- 2
Every type Arpía 51 has flown
| Aeronave | Años | Número | Nota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sikorsky AH-60L Arpía | since 2011 | 2 | Lightened by about 4,000 lb for displays; three flew in 2011. |
What Arpía 51 is known for
- First public aerobatic display by three Arpías at F-AIR Colombia, July 2011 (Volavi).
- Displays feature a flare-firing finale (Volavi).
Arpía 51, year by year
Black Hawk aerobatic demonstrations begin in the Colombian Air Force.
Arpía 51 formally established.
Three Arpías display aerobatics in public for the first time, at F-AIR Colombia.
Displays at the Feria Aeronáutica F-AIR 2023.
Displays at F-AIR Colombia 2025, Rionegro, 9–13 July.
Everything people ask about Arpía 51
What helicopter does Arpía 51 fly?
Where is Arpía 51 based?
How many helicopters are in the team?
Where can I see Arpía 51?
Around Arpía 51
Todos los datos, verificados
- A bordo con el Equipo Acrobático Arpía 51 de la Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (Volavi)
- Adrenalina y seguridad en el show del Equipo Acrobático Arpía 51 (Volavi)
- Equipo acrobático Arpía 51 de la Fuerza Aérea impresionará en la Feria Aeronáutica 2023 (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana)
- Arpía 51 alista exhibición para F-AIR 2025 (Actualidad)
Verificado el 2 de octubre de 2026.