Royal Jordanian Falcons
Millions of enthusiastic fans have enjoyed their performances since 1978. With their superb airmanship, their willingness to stake their lives on precise control of a few hundred kilograms of Dacron, wood and steel and, watchers say, with their personal friendliness and charm, the Royal Falcons - Jordan's unique aerobatics team - have captured the attention of audiences worldwide.
Among the team's most thrilling manoeuvres are the hammerhead turn and the knife-edge pass. The hammerhead, also known as the stall turn, requires the pilot to point the nose of the aircraft vertically upward until it reaches zero speed. Within three to five seconds, the pilot must use the rudder to throw the plane sideways before it slides back into a spin. In the knife-edge pass, the planes approach each other head on at a closure rate of 560 kilometers an hour (350 mph) until they are about 16 meters (50 feet) apart. At this point they roll 90 degrees, continuing on head-on courses, and pass each other canopy to canopy with 150 to 300 centimetres (5 to 10 feet) of clearance. To further complicate the maneuver, it is carried out so that the actual pass takes place directly in front of the crowd or reviewing stand. Also in the Falcons' extensive repertoire are snap rolls, loop splits, mirror rolls and Cuban eights.
Their most spectacular manoeuvre, however, is the
formation slow roll, which demands perfect coordination between leader and wingmen. As the name suggests, it is a roll of the entire three-plane formation, and not of the three planes separately. After picking up speed in a V-formation, the lead pilot gradually reduces speed and initiates a roll. The lead aircraft rolls around its own axis, and counteracts excessive drag on the aircraft by reducing speed to maintain its position, but the right and left wingers must roll around the leader, and they have to increase their speed accordingly. Maximum co-ordination of flight controls and throttle must be maintained for the wingmen to keep their proper positions. The Christen Eagles were so impressed by the formation slow roll during a performance in Wisconsin that they requested the Royal Falcons to accompany them to Fond du Lac - where the Eagles were invited to participate in the American Aerobatic Championships - to demonstrate the manoeuvre.
Aerobatics enthusiasts the world over recognize the red-and-white biplanes of Jordan's Royal Falcons, and recognize also the team's consummate skill and dedication. For their part, the team members recognize the importance of their dual roles as both cool-headed performers and dashing ambassadors of their country. To judge by the awe on upturned faces when they perform, the Royal Falcons have succeeded in leaving an indelible impression on their audiences.