The Team
In most military aerobatic teams today, display flying and ground crew duties are coupled to a full-time posting in a dedicated squadron. The Silver Falcons, however, is a part-time team. Pilots and ground crew all perform display duties as an over-and-above task to their primary postings.
Based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg on the South African West Coast, the Silver Falcons are all full-time ab-initio flying instructors at the Central Flying School.
To date, 93 pilots have been selected to fly in 70 different teams for the Silver Falcons. Each pilot is assigned a unique, sequential number. Whenever one or more team members change, a new team number is also allocated. Team 70 flew their first display on 31 January 2009.
Team 70 Display Pilots
Falcon 1
Maj Scott Ternent
Callsign: “Martian”
Positon: Leader
Hometown: Durban
Displays Flown: 111
Line: Fighter
Aircraft Flown: PC-7, MB-326 Impala
Total Flying Time: 2500 hrs
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, Outdoors, Snowboarding, Motocross, Guitar.
Falcon 2
Capt Roy Sproul
Callsign: “Cougar”
Positon: Right Wing
Hometown: Cape Town
Displays Flown: 71
Line: Transport
Aircraft Flown: PC-7, PC-9, C-47 TP
Total Flying Time: 2800 hrs
Hobbies/Interests: Photography, Water sports, Model aircraft.
Falcon 3
Capt Buti Tsebe
Callsign: “Karima”
Positon: Left Wing
Hometown: Rustenburg
Displays Flown: 44
Line: Transport
Aircraft Flown: PC-7
Total Flying Time: 1600 hrs
Hobbies/Interests: Driving, Playstation, Music, Sushi
Falcon 4
Capt Gerhard Lourens
Callsign: “Venom”
Positon: Slot Pilot
Hometown: Pretoria
Displays Flown: 34
Line: Fighter
Aircraft Flown: PC-7, C-185
Total Flying Time: 1300 hrs
Hobbies/Interests: Falconry, Running, Reading, Swimming, Guitar, Ballroom Dancing
Falcon 5
Maj Nico Frylinck
Callsign: “Whisper”
Positon: Soloist
Hometown: Pretoria
Displays Flown: 47
Aircraft Flow: PC-7, Alouette 3, Oryx
Line: Helicopter
Total Flying Time: 2000 hrs
Hobbies/Interests: Wine, Golf, Diving
For a full list of all the Silver Falcons pilots to date, visit the History Page.
Ground Crew
Few people realise the amount of work required and all the procedures in place to keep a military aircraft serviceable. Often out of the limelight, there is a hard-working team of specialists to ensure that the Silver Falcons not only go up, but also come down with their machines in good working order.
At home base, the Astras are maintained by the technicians of 2 Air Servicing Unit. On deployment, a team of 8 to 12 technicians accompany the display team and contribute to the success of each aerial display. In typical SAAF fashion, the ground crew members always create room for humour, rivalry and traditions when deployed.
