The “Telstars” were an aerobatic display team in the Royal Australian Air Force.
The team was formed in February 1963 from the Central Flying School in East Sale, Victoria. The team flew four De Havilland Vampire T.35 jet trainers and their first public demonstration was that year at the School of Air Navigation course graduation. The team’s airplanes were equipped with white, blue and red smoke generators. The first team pilots included Squadron Leader Klaffer, Peter Scully, Ken Tuckwell and Laurie Baston.
In February 1968, the Telstars aerobatic team performed for the first time with a new aircraft, the Italian-designed Aermacchi MB 326H jet trainer, more commonly known simply as the “Macchi”. However, the Telstars only flew with this new aircraft until April 1968, when the team was disbanded due to an overall Air Force-wide reduction in display flying.
