A Tribute to Blackjack

By Jack Bird

On the 29th of May 2021, as the aviation community readied itself for the return of airshows to the UK post covid, the RAF Typhoon Display Team unveiled what would become known as Blackjack!

ZJ914, Blackjack’s tail number, started its life on 9 Squadron based at RAF Lossimouth. 9 Squadron wanted to paint its Typhoon fleet black to suit its aggressor role. Unfortunately only 1 aircraft would get the menacing black paint job, ZJ914. The airframe was later transferred to 29 Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. Under the cover of darkness(yes really) ZJ914 was moved to the paint shop in early 2021. Secrecy was a top priority to maintain the surprise of the big public reveal. Taking almost a week to paint, the black jet was embellished with red white and blue Union Jack accents. Now in the public eye aircraft spotters nicknamed the aircraft Blackjack, a name which stuck and was adopted by the Typhoon Display Team for the aircraft. Over the past 3 years, 3 pilots have been given the honour of displaying Blackjack for the British public. Those pilots are, Flt Lt James Sainty, Flt Lt Adam O’Hare and Flt Lt Matthew Brighty. You may be more familiar with their nicknames, Sainty, Paddy and Brighty. What makes Blackjack special is it’s one of the longest-serving display jets for the RAF Typhoon Display Team. Most other special paint schemes last a year before being returned to grey or retiring. Blackjack and her pilots have had some amazing opportunities from displaying with the BBMFs Lancaster for the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters, displaying with the BBMFs Spitfire, Flying with the mighty Chinook, taking part in the Platinum Jubilee flypast, a now legendary shoot over the white cliffs (still jealous Rich and Steve) and even 2 years of RIAT displaying on all 3 days without a technical problem!

My love of the jet was instantaneous, as much as I like the look of Typhoons in their natural grey schemes the striking new design of Blackjack was epic. I was lucky enough to be at its first public display at the Midlands Air Festival, after seeing Blackjack in action in the hands of Sainty I was hooked. In its 3 years as the Typhoon Display Team’s primary aircraft I have chased it up and down the country. I watched her display multiple times at venues like, Duxford, Cosford, RIAT, Midlands, Blackpool and Coningsby. I have also made 3 models of the aircraft(1 for me 2 for friends), built it in LEGO, designed/made a patch dedicated to 914 and painted several camera lens hoods to represent the aircraft. I have had the pleasure to meet all 3 pilots and become friends with a few members of the team. This led to one of the most surreal days and one I will remember for as long as I live. As a thank you I was invited to visit 29 Squadron and spend a day with the team and Blackjack. Getting to see Typhoon up close inside and out was unbelievable, sadly the only thing I wasn’t allowed to do was sit in the aircraft. This was due to the seat being armed and if I am being honest I was glad, I didn’t want to be responsible for accidentally breaking Blackjack. In total I have 472 saved photos of Blackjack leading me to estimate I have taken well over 8,000 of this aircraft in total. I wanted to make this blog to say thanks to ZJ914 and to share some of my favourite photos, I hope you enjoy.

ZJ914’s future is unclear but I for one don’t think we have seen the end of her. Now I believe we have seen her last air display, airframe fatigue has helped close that chapter in 914’s story. But, I think Blackjacks coming year/s will be spent at airshows like RIAT sitting majestically in the static display watching the 2024 display pilot put his typhoon through its paces. But we will have to wait and see…