The Jetworks Display Team comprises of 2 x SIAI-Marchetti S.211 jet trainers flying as a Syncro Pair and flown by ex-RAAF Engineer Steve Gale and ex-RAAF Pilot and Roulettes Leader Steve Baker. The aircraft were previously operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force and flown out of RAAF Pearce, WA in the training role before being replaced by the Pilatus PC21. The SIAI-Marchetti S.211 (later Aermacchi S-211) is a turbofan-powered military trainer aircraft designed and originally marketed by Italian firm SIAI-Marchetti. Some 60 aircraft have been sold to air forces around the world. Aermacchi bought the production rights in 1997. The redesigned M-311 (now M-345) is currently under development by Alenia Aermacchi. SIAI-Marchetti began work on the aircraft in 1976 as a private venture basic trainer, hoping to offer it to the company's existing customer base of small air forces operating their piston-engined SF.260. Formally announced in Paris the following year, interest was strong enough to justify the construction of two prototypes, the first of which flew on 10 April 1981. The Singapore Air Force placed the first order for ten aircraft in 1983. The S-211 is a small tandem two-seat shoulder-wing monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear and powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4C turbofan. Also, the aircraft was designed for a secondary close air support capability with four underwing hardpoints for the carriage of weapons and other external stores. The S-211A was a slightly modified and updated variant of the S-211, was a losing contender in the USA's Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) aircraft selection. Among the seven to enter, the Raytheon/Pilatus entry won, which became the T-6 Texan II. The S-211 team was initially partnered with Grumman, and then Northrop Grumman after 1994. Since the 1990s, the Philippine Air Force has been using the S-211 as a Trainer with secondary Attack Capability. These were redesignated as AS-211s and nicknamed as "Warriors". With the retirement of the F-5 fighters in 2005, the additional task of air defense was assigned to it as well. Because of this, the Philippine Air Force initiated some improvements to the AS-211s to improve its combat capability through a series of programs and innovations. The first program was called "Project Falcon" which installed the Norsight Optical Sight from retired F-5s into the AS-211. The program was initiated by Lieutenant Colonel Enrique Dela Cruz, the Group Commander of the 5th Tactical Fighter Group. This was followed by the "Project Falcon Uniform" program which repainted the aircraft with a 2-tone Light and Dark Ghost Gray paint scheme along with low visibility markings to reduce their overall visibility. The "Project Falcon Hear" program saw the optimizing of air-ground communications on the AS-211 by upgrading and installing the AN/ARC-34 UHF radios from the F-5A/B. These aircraft were also fitted with a Belly Gun Pod designed, developed and manufactured by Philippine company Aerotech Industries Philippines, Inc. (AIPI). Each Pod is equipped with an M3 .50 cal Machine Gun, an automatic charger and approximately 240 rounds of .50 cal ammunition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIAI-Marchetti_S.211
The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, or Super Tweet, is an American light attack aircraft developed from the T-37 Tweet basic trainer in the 1960s and 1970s by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. The A-37 was introduced during the Vietnam War and remained in peacetime service afterward. The growing American military involvement in Vietnam in the early 1960s led to strong interest in counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. In late 1962, the U.S. Air Force's Special Air Warfare Center at Eglin Air Force Base's Hurlburt Field in Florida evaluated two T-37Cs for the role. The Air Force found the T-37 promising, but wanted an improved version of the aircraft that could carry a much larger payload, and had much greater endurance and better short-field performance. This meant a heavier aircraft with more powerful engines. In 1963, the Air Force awarded a contract to Cessna for two prototype YAT-37D aircraft: T-37s In Australia, the Temora Aviation Museum operate 10 Dragonflies, per: The A-37B Dragonfly is an all-metal, retractable gear, low wing twin turbojet powered aircraft. VH-DLO carries constructor’s number 68-10805 and VH-XVA is 68-10779. A total of 577 A-37Bs were delivered. The Cessna A-37B Dragonfly is a development of an aircraft originally designed in 1952 as a trainer for the US Air Force. The A-37B in its current configuration is designed as a ground attack aircraft and was developed to meet the COIN (counter insurgency) role. Cessna A-37B Dragonfly VH-DLO The US Government supplied 254 Cessna A-37B Dragonfly's to the Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) during the Vietnam War. Throughout the war A-37s were used extensively in support of Australian ground forces with many missions being directed by Australian Forward Air Controllers (FAC's). After the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, ninety-five VNAF A-37B aircraft were captured and incorporated into the Vietnamese People’s Air Force, the aircraft in the collection were among those captured. They were used in active service by their new "owners" and played a part in several regional conflicts involving Vietnam. In 1989 Colin Pay (who rebuilt the Museum’s Spitfire) and Noel Vinson found several Dragonflys in Vietnam. Subsequently, ten were purchased from the Government of Vietnam and brought to Australia. The aircraft were fully restored to flying condition and then two were acquired by David Lowy. Both A-37B Dragonflies have been donated to the Temora Aviation Museum VH-XVA in December 2000 and VH-DLO in November 2001. The Cessna A-37B Dragonflys are currently displayed at the Museum Showcase Days and various airshow events. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_A-37_Dragonfly
