The Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagles have announced the intention to visit at least one international airshow between June and August of this year.
Announcing the team’s domestic schedule, the team addressed a notable gap three month gaps, noting: “Due to the participation of the international airshow, may not be available from June to August.”
The Black Eagles have travelled abroad on several occasions, including to Malaysia in 2017 and to Singapore in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Trips were also planned to China in 2014 and Russia in 2021, but did not come to fruition. However, their biggest overseas tour – and the only one to have warrented a gap of multiple months in their domestic schedule – was their visit to the United Kingdom in 2012, during which the team performed at the Waddington Airshow and the Royal International Air Tattoo, as well as performing solo displays at the Farnborough Airshow.
The team’s commander had previously expressed the intention to This is Flight for the team to return to Europe, but this time ferrying the aircraft, rather than dismantling then and sending them as airfreight, as in 2012. This is likely no longer possible due to Russian airspace being closed to Korean aircraft.
The commander also expressed a desire to visit the United States and the Middle East. The timing of this year’s tour makes the third option unlikely, as temperatures are too high for air displays to be held in the Middle Eastern summer.
No airshows have yet said on public that they are in talks with the team, and any details about the planned tour remain to be seen.