Silver Falcons made use of the PC-7 MkII Astra in the training colour scheme at AAD 2008

 There had been plans to introduce another unique colour scheme and a competition was launched a few years ago where the public could vote for a new colour scheme.  Although a winner was announced the scheme never saw the light of day as it was not approved by the SAAF.

During 2008, the idea was revisited by the current team (Team 65 under the leadership of Maj Scott Ternett). The Chief of the Air Force, Lt Genl C. Gaggiano was in favour of the proposal and plans to re-brand the “Silver Falcons” were set in motion yet again.  The team was very much involved with the design and with the help of modern day CAD, four possible designs were chosen.  This was introduced to the public for the first time during an Aviators evening at Ysterplaat in early 2008.  During the function a sponsor came forward.  Kuba Miszewski of First African Signs generously offered to sponsor the paint to be used during the re-paint, thus keeping the cost to a minimum for the tax-payer. The final design was approved and on the 19th of May 2008 the first, two PC-7 Mk II aircraft arrived at AFB Ysterplaat. Here, 2ASU (detached) with Col Daniël Sutherland as project manager started work in all earnest. But repainting an aircraft is not just a matter of spraying a new coat of paint.  The first step was to prepare the current paint.  Called “scuffing”, the paint is roughened with use of sand paper. At the same time the aircraft was inspected for corrosion and the control services was removed.

 Once done the primer coat was applied and this was followed by scuffing with a lesser grade sanding material similar to ordinary Scotchgaurd, before the final paint process could get underway.  The design was laid down using a negative decal template.  Many a foul word was used during this process- especially while the under wing surfaces were done due the awkward and restricted working areas.   The control services were painted separately as it required balancing before being re-fitted.  All the emergency stencilling was applied, before the paint received a final light scuffing followed by the final clear coat. It took twenty six working hours to complete one aircraft with two being worked on at the same time.

 Six aircraft were re-painted which cannot be used for training purposes anymore due to the new colour scheme.  It was the wish of the Chief of the Air Force for the new colour scheme to be kept a secret and only to be unveiled at the 2008 Africa Aerospace and Defense show.  It was a tall order and the last aircraft was only completed with less than a week to spare.

 Serial Numbers of the new colour scheme: