The RAAF Roulettes

The RAAF Roulettes

The Roulettes are the current RAAF aerobatic display team. They provide around 150 flying displays in Australia and Southeast Asia each year.  The team comprises seven members and six aircraft flying Pilatus PC-9A – the airforce new pilot training aircraft.

RAAF Roulettes
History

The Red Sales. were the first official RAAF aerobatic team. Formed in 1962, they flew De Havilland Vampire M35 trainers. However, the team never made its public debut as they were all tragically killed on the fifth training flight.  The Telstars were formed in Feb 1963 but disbanded in 1968 due to budget constraints.  In 1970, The Roulettes were created to celebrate the RAAF’s 50th anniversary. They then held their first public display the same year at the Point Cook RAAF base. They were a team of four Macchis, growing to five aircraft in 1974 and seven in 1981. However, cost-cutting saw the group reduced to five again in 1982.

Flight Displays

The Roulettes have flown all around Australia, displaying manoeuvres in various low-level formations.  The shows feature aerobatics, low level flying and skills taught to pilots and developed throughout their careers.

They fly as low as 80metres from the ground and at speeds of around 685km/ph. As a result, the pilots can experience up to 6 times the force of gravity during a display. In addition, the planes are as close as 3 metres apart during the display.

Pilots

All the Roulette pilots from 1 – 6 are Qualified Flying Instructors. They work from the Central Flying School at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria.  When not taking part in displays, they teach other Airforce Pilots to become instructors. 

RAAF Roulettes display

First season pilots fly as Roulettes 2, 3 or 4. More experienced pilots fly as Roulettes 5 and 6. Roulette 1 is the team leader, and Roulette 7 flies the spare aircraft, is responsible for public relations and often provides commentary at flying displays.

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Roulettes
roulettes display
Accidents

The RAAF Roulettes have had three accidents over the years:

  • In 1983 Roulette 2 and 3 collided during practice near Sale, resulting in the death of both pilots.
  • A mid-air collision in 1988 saw Roulette 4 eject safely, and Roulette 1 perform a gear-up landing
  • In 2005 a mid-air collision occurred over Sale during practice. One pilot ejected safely, while his aircraft crashed into a cow paddock and burst into flames.  The second pilot landed his severely damaged aircraft safely.
  • Another crash occurred in 2011. One plane lost power climbing from the runways forcing the flying instructor and a trainee pilot to eject.

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