1 March 2023
In a historic moment the Republic of Korea Air Force aerobatic team the Black Eagles, and the Royal Australian Air Force aerobatic team the Roulettes, joined forces for a friendship flight in support of the 2023 Australian International Airshow.
The Roulettes are a team of six, flying the Pilatus PC-21 from the Central Flying School at RAAF Base East Sale, and the Black Eagles are a team of eight that flies the T-50B.
Roulette One pilot Squadron Leader Mark Keritz spoke of how he was in awe of the South Korean display team.
“I wouldn’t mind flying in a T-50B, especially being part of their display team,” he said.
The two teams worked together for the first time to fly in formation. They took off from Avalon, tracked along the Great Ocean Road, then went over the Melbourne CBD for a city flypast before returning to Avalon.
Back at Avalon the Black Eagles performed their signature move the “Taegeuk”, in which they create the Republic of Korea flag with display smoke.
The team leader and first pilot of the South Korean aerobatic team Major Eun-ho Yang mentioned there wasn’t scenery like this in South Korea, so he was incredibly impressed with what Australia had to offer.
“I saw very beautiful scenery in Australia, the beautiful ocean, cliff and hills,” he said.
For the pilots of both teams, the friendship flight was a chance to share their love of flying and to learn from the experience of working with another Air Force aerobatic team.
Squadron Leader Keritz highlighted that it was a great opportunity to see how the Black Eagles operate and to show them how the Roulettes operate as well.
“For the Roulettes, it was a great way to show a mutual trust and respect between the display teams operating so close to each other with very different aircraft,” he said.
The flight featuring two of the world's most talented aerobatic teams was the culmination of months of planning. This paid off when the teams flew in perfect formation, showcasing their skills in a display of friendship between South Korea and Australia.
“We have a different strategy and a different culture between South Korea and Australia,” Major Yang said.
“But my friend Mark is very kind, he communicates everything very well so I didn’t find it difficult to fly together,” he said.
