World's Best Aerobatic Teams

The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a Russian subsonic two-seat jet trainer/light fighter. The development of the aircraft started in 1991, and in 2009 it entered service with the Russian Air Force. As a training aircraft, the Yak-130 is able to replicate characteristics of some 4th generation fighters.
Above: Yak-130 aircraft during a demonstration flight at the MAKS-2013 Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky.

The Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) are an aerobatic demonstration team of the Russian Air Force. It was formed on April 1991 at the Kubinka Air Base near Moscow as a team of six Su-27 aircraft.
Above: Su-27 fighter aircraft of the aerobatic display team "Russkye Vityazi" (Russian Knights) during the Air Force Day celebration in Lipetsk.

The Russian Knights now perform solo and formation flying on Su-27P and Su-27UB jet fighters. The team takes part in all Russian and many international airshows.
Above: The aerobatic demonstration team The Russian Knights performing aerobatic maneuver "Mirror" at the opening of the International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg.

The Russian Knights is the only demonstration team in the world to perform aerobatics maneuvers on heavy fighters. Besides, all the aircraft are production models.
Above: Russkiye Vityazi aerobatic team's Sukhoi Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft fly over Red Square during a general rehearsal of the Victory Parade.

The Strizhi (Swifts) are a Russian aerobatic performance demonstration team. They was formed on May 6, 1991, and are stationed at Kubinka Air Base.
Above: Aerobatics group The Swifts flying MiG-29 aircraft during the MAKS-2013 Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky.

The Swifts perform solo and formation flying with the multirole jet fighter MiG-29.
Above: MiG-29 fighters of The Swifts aerobatic team during a flight at an airport in Kubinka outside Moscow.

The Swifts and The Russian Knights run a joint program of aerobatic maneuvers.
Above: Su-27 fighter aircraft of the Russian Knights group and MiG-29 aircraft of the Swifts group fly over Red Square during the military parade marking the 68th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In 2004, The Swifts and The Russian Knights started performing a diamond formation with nine planes (five Su-27s and four MiG-29s), setting a world record.
Above: A joint flight of the Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatics teams at the air forces' general rehearsal for the Common Sky event at Zhukovsky Airfield.

The Falcons of Russia are a Russian Air Force aerobatic display team flying with MiG-29s and Su-27s aircraft. The team was established in 2006 at the Lipetsk Air Base.
Above: Su-27 fighters of the Falcons of Russia aerobatic team perform during the Air Force Day in Lipetsk.

Aerobatics are taught to military fighter pilots as a means of developing flying skills and for tactical use in combat.
Above: MiG-29 fighter planes of the Swifts aerobatic team perform during The Wings of Parma aviation festival at the Sokol military airport of the Central Military District, in Perm.

Teams of up to sixteen aircraft fly in aerobatic formations, although most teams fly between four and ten planes.
Above: The Falcons of Russia aerobatics team of the 4th State Training Center for Aviation Personnel of the Ministry of Defense perform at the Ninth International Exhibition of Arms, Military Equipment and Ammunition "Russia Arms Expo 2013" in Nizhny Tagil.

Aerobatic flying requires a broader set of piloting skills and exposes the aircraft to greater structural stresses than normal flight.
Above: The Su-27 fighters of the Russian Air Force's Russian Falcons aerobatic team at the MAKS-2011 International Aviation and Space Show.

The August 1st Aerobatics Team (Bayi aerobatic team) are an aerobatic demonstration team of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. It is named after the date when the PLA was founded (August 1, 1927), and is a part of the PLAAF Beijing Military Region.
Above: J-10 jet fighters of the Bayi Aerobatic Team rehearse in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 21, 2013.

The Bayi aerobatic team was initially equipped with JJ-5 fighter-trainer jets, a Chinese version of Russian MiG-17. Since May 2009, the team has flown Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter.
Above: "August 1st" jet aerobatic squadron takes their F-7E fighter aircraft to the skies on the opening day of Airshow 2000 in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, November 6, 2000.

The Blue Angels is the US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron. Formed in 1946, the Blue Angels are the second oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world.
Above: The Blue Angels perform at the Joint Service Open House, May 17, 2002, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

The Blue Angels’ six demonstration pilots fly the F/A-18 Hornet typically, performing in more than 70 shows at 34 locations across the US each year.
Above: The US Navy's Blue Angels perform at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Low-level aerobatics are extremely demanding and airshow pilots must demonstrate their ability before being allowed to gradually reduce the height at which they may fly their show.
Above: Navy F-18s flying in formation piloted by the Blue Angels precision flying team.

To enhance the effect of aerobatic maneuvers smoke is sometimes generated; the smoke allows viewers to see the path travelled by the aircraft.
Above: The Blue Angels perform a maneuver called the "loop break across" Saturday Nov. 1, 2014 at the Wings Over Houston Airshow at Ellington Airport in Houston.

The Thunderbirds are an air demonstration squadron of the US Air Force. The team is assigned to the 57th Wing, and is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
Above: Aircraft of the US Air Force air demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, fly over Kogalniceanu airport, Romania, on June 8, 2011.

Aircraft of the 'Thunderbirds' US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron fly as they perform during an air show at Don Muang airport in Bangkok on October 10, 2009. AFP PHOTO/PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL

The Thunderbirds perform aerobatic demonstrations in the F-16C Fighting Falcon. F-16D two-seat trainers are also used. The F-16 has been group’s demonstration aircraft since 1983.
Above: Aircraft of the Thunderbirds US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron fly as they perform during an air show at Don Muang airport in Bangkok on October 10, 2009.

The Frecce Tricolori are the aerobatic display team of the Italian Aeronautica Militare, stationed at Rivolto Air Force Base. They were formed in 1961 as an Air Force team.
Above: Members of the Italian Air Force, the Frecce Tricolori, perform with their Aermacchi MB-339 aircraft during the International Air Show at the Hungarian Air Force base in Kecskemet on August 3, 2013.

The Frecce Tricolori team flies the Aermacchi MB-339, a two-seat fighter-trainer plane capable of 898 kmh at sea level.
Above: MB 339 jets of the Italian elite acrobatic flying team Frecce Tricolori perform aerobatics over the 701 Air Base of Salon-de-Provence, southern France, on May 25, 2013.

Colored smoke trails may be emitted to emphasize the patterns flown or the colors of a national flag.
Above: The Frecce Tricolori fly over the Altare della Patria (The tomb of the Unknown Soldier) in Rome on April 22, 2013.

The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, are the aerobatics demonstration team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton. The group was formed in 1946.
Above: The British Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team "Red Arrows" perform in the skies of Rivolto army base during an air show, on September 12, 2010.

The first military aerobatic team to use smoke during displays were "The Black Cats" of the Fleet Air Arm 702 Squadron at the Farnborough Airshow in September 1957.
Above: The "Red Arrows" aerobatic team performs in the skies of Rivolto army base during an air show, on September 12, 2010.

The Patrouille Acrobatique de France are the precision display squadron of the French Air Force. Pilots currently fly the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet.
Above: Aircrafts from the Patrouille de France display team perform aerobatics, as they fly over the 701 Air Base in Salon-de-Provence, southern France, on May 25, 2013.

The Patrouille de France originated in 1931. It is the world’s oldest and one of the most skilled demonstration teams.
Above: Alpha Jets of the French Air Force, La Patrouille de France fly over the Arc the Triomphe in Paris on July 14, 2014.

Aerobatic maneuvers are often combined to form a complete aerobatic sequence.
Above: Alphajet aircraft draw a heart-shaped message in the sky during the 2010 presentation show of the French aerobatics team Patrouille de France, on May 25, 2010.

Surya Kiran are an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team was formed in 1996 and has a total of 13 pilots.
Above: Pilots of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team display their skills during the Hawk the Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft induction ceremony at Bidar Air Force Station.

The Surya Kiron squadron is primarily composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 military trainer aircraft.
Above: Pilots of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team display their skills during an air show, part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Indian Air Force at the Adampur Air Force Station.