The Black Eagles, the Republic of Korea Air Force's aerobatic flight team, on Aug. 3 fly over the Egyptian pyramids at the Pyramid Air Show 2022 in Cairo, Egypt. (Air Force's official Instagram account)
By Anais Faure
The Black Eagles, the Republic of Korea Air Force's aerobatic flight team, on Aug. 3 put on a joint air show with their Egyptian counterparts Silver Stars at the Pyramid Air Show 2022 in Cairo, Egypt.
Members of the Black Eagles, the Republic of Korea Air Force's aerobatic flight team, and their Egyptian counterparts from the Silver Stars on Aug. 3 enter the site of the Pyramid Air Show 2022 in Cairo, Egypt. (Black Eagles' official Instagram account)
Due to a complicated process to get permits approved, only the aerobatic flight team of the Egyptian Air Force had held a show over the 4,500-year-old pyramids before the Black Eagles. This show was also the first time for the Black Eagles to fly in skies over Africa.
Yonhap News said Egypt's choice of the Black Eagles as its first partner for the air show near the pyramids reflected the excellence of Korean aircraft and conveyed Cairo's intent for greater defense cooperation with Seoul.
Spectators at the show had cheers like "Korea" and "Black Eagles wonderful!" as the team, composed of eight T-50B jets, formed the Taegeuk pattern over the pyramids with white smoke.
The Black Eagles, the Republic of Korea Air Force's aerobatic flight team, on Aug. 3 displays acrobatics at the Pyramid Air Show 2022 in Cairo, Egypt. (Black Eagles' official Instagram account)
Jointly organized by the Republic of Korea Air Force, Korea Aerospace Industries and the Egyptian Air Force, the show was part of efforts to support the export of Korean aircraft such as the T-50B used by the Black Eagles and the FA-50, which Egypt is considering adopting for its air force.
Yonhap and other Korean media said that following bilateral negotiations on the export of Korea's K-9 self-propelled artillery early this year, Korea and Egypt are discussing the export and planned joint production of FA-50s.
The show was attended by senior military and government officials from Egypt like Air Force Commander Mohamed Abbas Helmy Hashem and the ministers of tourism, youth and sports and civil aviation.
For the Korean side, Korean Ambassador to Egypt Hong Jin-wook, Korea Air Force Education and Training Commander Gong Seung-bae and about 100 ethnic Korean residents of Egypt came out.
Spectators on Aug. 3 cheer at the Pyramid Air Show 2022 in Cairo, Egypt. (Black Eagles' official Instagram account)
afaure@korea.kr
