Silver Stars is the Egyptian Air Force aerobatic display team flying 10
K-8E Karakorumjet trainer aircraft painted in white, red and black colors. All planes are equipped with red, white and black smoke generators. During the shows, the Silver Stars performs eight different formations along with several single aircraft passes. Aircraft #6325 (Star 1) carries the name "Sharaf" after the team leader. Another team's planes also carried the pilots names painted at the K-8 nose. All pilots are flying instructors at the
Egyptian Air force Academy based in Belbeis Airport.
The Egyptian Air Force demonstration team "The Silver Stars" was formed in mid 1974 to participate in the "
October War" anniversary. Pilots of the team were flying instructors at the Air force College and flew four
L-29 planes painted in dark green and brown and yellow – standard color scheme. In 1984, the Silver Stars aerobatic team switched to six
Alpha Jet training airplanes. In the following year, team's planes became nine.
In 2003, the team made the switch to the K-8E Karakorum trainer and from 2005 was led by Group Captain Mostafa Fathi.
Since 2010, the team is now flying ten aircraft – nine plus one solo.
References
^Spitfires over Israel- Chris Shores, Grub Street, London; Avions Issue 66 September 1998; Gloster Gladiator- Francis K Mason, MacDonald Aircraft Monographs; and additional information from Yuri M Svoyski.