Golden Crown
The Golden Crown (Persian: تاج طلایی Tāj-e Talāyi) was the first and national aerobatics display team of Iran and part of the former Imperial Iranian Air Force from 1958 to 1979. It was formed by Nader Jahanbani, an Iranian general, and it was mainly inspired by Sky Blazers, an American aerobatics team. During the cold war this team successfully performed in many competitions.
Golden Crown Official Imperial Iranian Air Force Aerobatic Team | |
---|---|
6 F-5Es of the Golden Crown display team | |
Active | 30 October 1958-11 February 1979 |
Disbanded | after 1979 Revolution |
Country | |
Branch | |
Role | Aerobatic display team |
Part of | part of 1st Fighter Interceptor Squadron |
Garrison/HQ | Mehrabad (THR) Khatami Air Base Kushke Nosrat Airport |
Colours | ■□■ (three Colours of flag of Iran) |
Commanders | |
head man | Nader Jahanbani |
Insignia | |
Insignia (1972-1979) | |
Insignia (1960-1971) | |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | 4 – F-84 Thunderjet 6 – F-86 Sabre 6 – F-5E |
The Golden Crown was officially founded in 1958. Fourteen Iranian pilots were sent to Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany, in order to learn aerobatics in jet aircraft. Nine of them returned to Iran after a couple of months and the remaining five went on to undergo further flying training. After 72 training sessions, the team performed its first aerobatic display in 1958. It was equipped with four Republic F-84G Thunderjet aircraft. By 1959, it had nine F-84s.
The team performed near Mehrabad International Airport and later, at Kooshk Nosrat 100 kilometres from Tehran.
During the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the team was disbanded after the dissolution of the Imperial Iranian Air Force.
IIAF ace, Yadollah Javadpour, was a member of the Golden Crown from 1975 to 1978. Other notable members include Mohammad Amir Khatami, Nader Jahanbani, Amir Hossein Rabii, Bahram Hooshyar, and Yadollah Sharifirad.
- Farhad Nasirkhani member of Golden Crown IIAF puts on Golden Crown uniform 1972
- F-5Es taking off from the Mehrabad Airport; 1970s
- Right to left: Asghar Imanian, Abdolhossein Minoosepehr, Nader Jahanbani (leader), Nader Yoosefi, Bahman Bagheri, Ayat Mohagheghi, Fariborz Bayvar
- Joint airshow with US Navy Blue Angels, 1973
- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi visiting the Golden Crown members, 1976
- An F-84G Thunderjet of the Golden Crown aerobatic team.
- An Imperial Iranian Air Force F-86 Sabre, of the Golden Crown aerobatic display team.
See also
References
- Alibabaie, Gholamreza (2004). History of Iranian Air Force. Tehran: Ashian. pp. 98–99. ISBN 964-7518-19-6.