Original British Army Air Corps Blue Eagles Helicopter Aerobatic Team Pilot Helmet – Formerly Part of the Tower of London Yeoman Warders Club Collection Original Items

Original Items: Only One Available. IMA recently acquired a collection of headgear from the Yeoman Warders (aka “Beefeaters”) Club located at the Tower of London. The club has a strict policy of allowing only members of the Yeoman Warders and their guests entry. It has become a tradition over the years for visiting guests with any current or prior military or police service to leave one of their pieces of headgear. Over the years this collection has grown too large, leaving the Warders to liquidate the collection to IMA! Making this a truly exclusive offering!

This helmet belonged to a pilot or crewman that was a part of the Blue Eagles Helicopter Aerobatic Team of the British Army Air Corps in 2009! The helmet is a size large and appears to be complete without the electronics for obvious reasons. There is minor wear to the helmet and no extensive damage. The dual visors are both functional and clear. The reverse of the helmet has a lovely Blue Eagles decal with the words Blue Eagles beneath it. The visor cover is free of damage and has the following embroidered on it:

ARMY AIR CORPS
Queen’s Guard
LONDON DISTRICT 2009

This is truly a spectacular helmet that comes ready for display!

Blue Eagles
The Blue Eagles were the helicopter aerobatic team of the British Army Air Corps. It was one of only seven professional helicopter teams in the world, along with the Royal Navy Black Cats, Sarang of the Indian Air Force, the Scorpion aerobatic team of the Polish Air Force, Rotores de Portugal, the Patrulla Aspa of the Spanish Air Force and the US Army Silver Eagles. They were formed in the spring of 1968 by Air Corps instructors, and were established in the following years with five helicopters. In 2001, the team included the first British female military display pilot. In 2010, it was disbanded due to an aging Westland Lynx fleet and financial cutbacks.

History
The Blue Eagles were formed in the spring of 1968 by instructors at the British Army Air Corps centered at Middle Wallop who practiced in their spare time. One year later the team was permanently established with five Bell-47G3B1 Sioux helicopters. Despite no official formation flying training from the army, the team achieved growing success and by 1974 they were including venues as far apart as the Channel Islands, Scotland and Germany. Nonetheless, the Army could not afford to maintain the Blue Eagles on a full-time basis and the team disbanded. Enthusiastic pilots at Middle Wallop were left to continue the team on their own time, and they kept the team and expertise alive. The team performed under a variety of names including the Eagles, Army Eagles, and Sparrow-hawks.

In 1982 the team briefly officially reformed as the Silver Eagles for the Army Air Corps’ 25th anniversary. During this time the team flew the Bell/Agusta, the Aérospatiale Gazelle, the Westland Lynx, and the Westland Scout helicopters and occasionally even incorporated fixed-wing aircraft into their displays.

1992 saw the Eagles equipped with four Lynx helicopters which amazed crowds with their unprecedented versatility and power. However the Army needed Lynx helicopters elsewhere and could not justify the expensive flying time for an unofficial team. Thus the team adopted a configuration of four Gazelles and one Lynx in 1993. The team experienced a strong resurgence and won the prestigious Wilkinson Sword at the Royal International Air Tattoo. Following this success the team was allowed to return to the Blue Eagles moniker in 1994, though the team was still composed entirely of volunteers.
In 2001, the team included the very first British female military display pilot, Sgt Julie Wiles.

The team continued to fly out of Middle Wallop and its repertoire included formation flying, loops, rolls, breaks, and many other standard aerobatic stunts until the team was disbanded in 2010, due to financial considerations and an aging Lynx fleet. It was succeeded in its role by the Solo Apache Display team.