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Recently, we came accross a picture of a Singapore F-16C painted in the colors of the Black Knights demonstration team.

RSAF F-16C block 52 is coming in to land in its new colorscheme of the Black Nights demonstration team. Six vipers will be painted this way.

If anyone has any information on which aircraft are painted in this colorscheme (presumably 6 in total), please let us know.

Further, if anyone has information on which aircraft (A or B models) who where painted in the same colorscheme for the original Black Knights demo team back a number of years ago. Don't hesitate to let us know as well.

Greets,

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Senior member Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 347

Why are the "Black Knights" red and white? WTF

Enthusiast Joined: Dec 09, 2003 Posts: 73 Status: Offline

The red and white paint schemes for the F-16s represent Singapore's national flag colours of red and white. Its a little contradictory to the name "Black" Knights" that they chose. Here's their official website page if you want to know more about them:

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/air_force/assets/black_knights.html

Bjorn, i'll try to look up the a/c serial numbers for you.

Does somebody know if the aircraft will be C models blk 52 or blk 15 A/B models? Question

The pic shows a blk 52. Altought It'll be great to see late blk 52's performing the shows, uhmmm I might use "earlier" models for the Demo Team... Right? Shocked

Senior member Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 347

Why not, the Thunderbirds will be block 50/52s soon. I guess the Air Force feels we don't need them on the line. Confused

Thanks Razor.

Jochem, Singapore doesn't have any A/B models in their inventory no more. So it have to be block 52 models.

Greets,

Bjorn wrote:

Thanks Razor.

Jochem, Singapore doesn't have any A/B models in their inventory no more. So it have to be block 52 models.

Greets,

Thanks Bjorn and Razor, dug a little in the site to clear my head and found this: In December of 2004 a contract was signed between the Singapore and Thai government for the acquisition of the 7 remaining A/B airframes by the RTAF. (hehehe did my homework) Very Happy

Thanks for clearing this Bjorn.

Enthusiast Joined: Dec 05, 2006 Posts: 42 Status: Offline

Just to speculate abit. Do you think they will use the Blk52+ for the display? Imagine the jets with the spine and CFTs performing aerobatics....

Phreotho wrote:

Just to speculate abit. Do you think they will use the Blk52+ for the display? Imagine the jets with the spine and CFTs performing aerobatics....

Blk 52 will have to do, like Bjorn mentioned there are no other blks currently in the RSAF, 'bout the CTF uhmmm... do not see the need to do so, an F-16D among the Team will have the spine. It'll be an interesting thing to see too.

Enthusiast Joined: Aug 15, 2004 Posts: 74 Status: Offline

Does anyone know which tail numbers are being used by the display team?

Regards

Mark

Newbie Joined: Oct 11, 2004 Posts: 15 Status: Offline

Just curious, why did the RSAF buys more D models than the C models?

Here is the link to the history of the Squadron's emblem and their name:

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef ... mblem.html

The name, Black knights, originates from the game chess. The Knight is widely regarded as the most aggressive, flexible and manoeuvrable of the chess pieces. It has the ability to breach barriers and move in nimble and strategically important directions. Therefore, the Black Knights exemplifies flexibility, precision manoeuverability as well as the mental and physical agility of our pilots.

The Black Knights is also the formation insignia of Tengah Air Base, home to the RSAF's fighter aircraft and the RSAF Black Knights. The Black Knights emblem is sported on the red vertical tail of each of the team's aircraft.

The team's name is emblazoned on both sides of the aircraft which is painted in our National colours, red and white.

I'm from Singapore, so I can help provide some answers.

The Black Knights are flying F-16C, Block 52, based in Tengah Airbase. As Singapore's airforce is relatively small, these are fully combat-operational jets painted red/white, and not stripped down demo aircraft.

Basically the entire airforce is now only Block 52, with 20 of them being D+ (actually you should compare the Greece, Israeli and Singapore D+ photos closeup and you know which are actually the same...oops)

Singapore has more D than C, as they are configured in preparation for long range strikes, thus the CFTs and spines on all D. The rear seat is a full WSO configuration.

You should watch the videos of their flight, I would say its among the very best. Smile

So I take it the centerline tanks has the smoke sytem built into it as these are operational aircraft with no other modifications?

You can check out this video...flight and ground crew interviewed, with some flying scenes...

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/resour ... 8/feb.html

Yup...other than the smoke...the rest of the plane are kept operationally ready.

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Black Knights demo team