Last updated on 4/7/24
Search museum.vhpa.org Courtesy of Google

View My Guestbook

Sign My Guestbook

Geo Visitors Map

Last updated on 4/7/24

Site established on 3/22/01



Silver Eagles


The Silver Eagles were the Armies precision rotary aviation flight team
Image courtesy of "Rocket" Rochat


Since we supported the Army’s recruiting efforts, the Army hired a professional photographer to come to Ft Rucker to shoot a bunch of publicity photos, many of which turned out to be quite good I think. Since photographers prefer the “spectacular” shots, much of our flying for him was at dawn & dusk, which made for some long days! When I returned to Rucker in 1977 for my 2d tour there, the Eagles had just been disbanded a few months prior & one of the team’s last pilots gave me an original copy of those photos & some 16mm film for safe keeping

Photo taken of the wedge formation @ approx ˝ rotor disc separation flying west from Ft Rucker into the sun until it turned dark one Fri or Sat nite (don’t remember which one – but I do remember some of the flight instructors asking me what we were doing flying in formation so late at nite on a weekend).
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Trail formation flying down the Chattahoochee River.
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


The opening Starburst maneuver (from the viewing stand perspective)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


The opening Starburst maneuver (from the photographer’s perspective directly under the formation)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Solo “Climb & Dive” (from the photographer’s point of view)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Solo “Climb & Dive” (from the spectator’s perspective)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Solo Spiral Climb, Split S, & Dive (spectator’s viewpoint)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Solo Spiral Climb, Split S, & Dive (photographer’s view from altitude)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Solo Spiral Climb, Split S, & Dive (photographer’s view from ground)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Bozo announcing his presence
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Bozo with his giant yo yo (spectator’s view)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Bozo & his yo yo (photographer’s view)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Echelon formation (photographer’s aerial view)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Echelon formation (as seen by spectators with MAJ Bill Bowling (Narrator & Team XO) & LTC Don Galla (Team Commander) in foreground as the formation makes its final pass in front of the crowd
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Echelon formation (as seen by spectators with aircraft breaking the formation to begin the landing pattern)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Yours truly preflighting the aircraft prior to the show
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Me meeting GEN Westmoreland after the Beaufort, SC show
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Me with my helmet – didn’t even know that sneaky photographer took the photo until later!
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


MSG Bill Pethel & the aircraft crew chiefs saluting as we depart the parking area to begin the show
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Posing with air show sponsor representatives at an evening reception following the air show
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Me with SP4 Jason Beechwood, my crew chief who did a great job keeping my aircraft in great shape & was rewarded by having to endure listening to country music on the ADF enroute between air show sites!
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


My mom & dad (who had come to Duluth, MN to see the show)
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


To the best of my knowledge, only once during the 1973 air show season were any families able to attend any of our shows. I was the lucky one & this is me with my 2 sisters & brother-in-law following the Duluth, MN airshow
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


Nationally known air show announcer Bill Bordeleau announcing the Silver Eagle pilots to the crowd following one of the air shows
Image courtesy of Jim Kluender – Solo


All images remain the personal property of this site and the contributor of the photo. You may download them for your personal use but they may not be published or used on any other site without written permission from the webmaster and the contributor.