Black Eagles paint Riyadh sky with dazzling aerobatics in debut performance

by Jun Sung-min Posted : February 10, 2026, 10:35Updated : February 10, 2026, 11:28
South Korean expatriates in Saudi Arabia wave South Korean flags after watching the South Korean Air Force aerobatic team Black Eagles perform at the 2026 World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday (local time). Photo provided by the Korea Defense Industry Promotion Association.
Spectators watch the Black Eagles, South Korea's aerobatic team, perform at an air show in Riyadh on Feb. 9, 2026. Courtesy of the Korea Defense Industry Association
SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korea's aerobatics team wowed spectators with impressive maneuvers at an air show in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

It was the Black Eagles' first appearance at the show, which was part of the International Defense Industry Exhibition in the Middle Eastern country.

After the Saudi Falcons’ performance, the Black Eagles took off with eight aircraft, forming star- and diamond-shaped patterns before moving into their other signature maneuvers, leaving colored smoke trails across Riyadh's sky.

To the beat of traditional folk tune "Arirang" and "Golden" from Netflix's hit animated film "Kpop Demon Hunters," the team performed a series of routines including 360-degree turns. The highlight was its "Mugunghwa" maneuver, inspired by the country's national flower, the rose of Sharon, which symbolizes the country's perseverance and resilience.
 
South Korea’s Air Force aerobatic team Black Eagles draw a Taeguk symbol with white smoke during an air show at the 2026 World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday (local time). Photo by the Defense Ministry joint press corps.
A "taegeuk" (yin-yang) symbol is formed by the Black Eagles, South Korea's aerobatic team, at an air show in Riyadh on Feb. 9, 2026. Courtesy of the Ministry of Defense
For the 30-minute show, spectators including South Korean expatriates packed areas around the runway to watch the dramatic maneuvers, cheering loudly and waving flags. In one breathtaking sequence, four aircraft approached at high speed in pairs from opposite directions, then narrowly crossed paths mid-air.

Despite Riyadh's dry, high-altitude environment that reduces engine thrust and acceleration, the Black Eagles climbed to 8,000 feet (about 2,438 meters) and maintained top speed.

Yoon Jong-geun, a South Korean expat in Saudi Arabia, said the team showed "another level of skill," compared with those he had watched earlier. "Just watching the Black Eagles fly over Saudi skies is a thrilling moment," he added.
Jun Sung-min 기자
Jun Sung-min

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