Southern Cross Aerobatic Squadron

Escuadrilla Acrobática Cruz del Sur ("Southern Cross Aerobatic Squadron") is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Argentine Air Force, established in 1962 as part of the 4th Air Group based in Mendoza. It was dissolved and reformed several times, and is currently based at Morón, Buenos Aires.

Southern Cross Aerobatic Squadron Escuadrilla Cruz del Sur
Southern Cross Aerobatic Flight logo
Active	1962-1962 1997-2010 2013-present
Country	Argentina
Branch	Argentine Air Force
Type	Aerobatic display
Role	Flight demonstration team
Size	Six pilots
Garrison/HQ	Morón, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Colors	Light Blue & White
Aircraft flown
Trainer	6 FMA IA 63 Pampa

History

As part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Argentine Air Force creation, in 1961 it was ordered to different units to create display teams. The Southern Cross aerobatic team was created in early 1962 by the 1st Fighter-bomber Group of the IV Brigada Aérea (Argentina) [es] of the Argentine Air Force, based at Los Tamarindos, Mendoza. It operated six F-86 Sabre aircraft until its disbandment in December of the same year. Sabres would still be used occasionally in aerobatics until 1985, though not using the team's name.^[1]

The team was reformed in 1997 with seven Sukhoi Su-29AR, and disbanded again in 2010 due to budget and maintenance problems. It was based at the IV Airborne Brigade located at El Plumerillo Air Base in Mendoza.^[2]

In 2012 the Air Force reestablished the team with six upgraded IA-63 Pampa II based at Morón Air Base, in Morón, Buenos Aires Province.^[3][4]

Aircraft used

A FMA IA 63 Pampa

Type	Quantity	Period
United States - North American F-86	6	1962—1985
Russia - Sukhoi Su-29	7	1997—2010
Argentina - FMA IA 63 Pampa	6	2013—present