Alan Wallace - Land Rover Hawk Flying Dispay Team Commentator

Land Rover Hawk Flying Display Team.

I had been a falconer for some 15 years when I decided to create my own hawk flying display team. Having watched many of the existing teams I felt that there was an opportunity for a display where the emphasis was as much on fun and entertainment as on education. I felt that it was important the display had integrity as a whole event rather than as a series of individual displays. It also needed to be a suitable project for sponsorship with Land Rover the obvious candidate.
The act was carefully designed to move from fast flowing falcons to gentle flying hawks and owls and with an eagle as the finale. By adding pre-recorded voice over and music to suit each bird species and with a team of four falconers the aim was to have no down time. As soon as one species had finished flying they were gathered up and the next in the air.
The following is a sample of a 30 minute display:

4 Barn Owls spread out around the arena and interacting with children.
1 Lanner Falcon chasing a lure.
2 Harris Hawks flown round the arena and then flown by the public.
1 Saker Falcon flown to a lure.
2 Eagle Owls, one flown over a line of children.
1 African Tawny Eagle flown out of the back of the Land Rover Discovery around the arena and then back into the Discovery.

In it's 3 years the Team appeared in the main ring at most of the major agricultural shows including:

The Royal Show - The Royal Norfolk - The Royal Windsor Horse - Royal Bath and West - Royal Cornwall -The Royal Welsh - Royal County of Berkshire - Leicestershire County - Newark and Nottinghamshire County - Balmoral Show - Essex Young Farmers' Country - Devon County Surrey County - Suffolk Show - Staffordshire County - South of England - East of England Country - Three Counties - Cheshire County - Lincolnshire Show - Tendring Hundred - Kent County - Mid Devon - Penrith Agricultural - Driffield - New Forest & Hampshire County - Bakewell - North Devon - Honiton Agricultural - Anglesey County - Mid Somerset Agricultural - Pembrokeshire County - Monmouthshire - Moreton-in-Marsh - Gatcombe Park Horse Trials - Catherington Show - Game Conservancy Scottish Fair - Hampshire Show - Hertfordshire County - Middlesex County - Royal Lancashire Show - Shropshire and West Midlands - West Wiltshire Country - Cheshire County - Berkshire County - Essex Country - and too many Town Shows to mention

The Team visited many schools on their days off to introduce youngsters to birds-of-prey. This was a school in Taughton which we attended when at the Royal Bath and West	Alan with Lady, his 10 year old African Tawny Eagle. Lady was the finale of the Teams display as she flew from the back of the Land Rover Discovery	Through Alan's Press activities the team received huge media coverage before, during and after the event	The Hawk Display was designed to engage the spectator by allowing the public to fly Barn owls and Harris Hawks in the arena. The Eagle Owl Flyover was often the highlight for the children.
Alan was the Creator, Manager, Press Officer and Head Falconer of the Land Rover Hawk Flying Display Team.	Bobo the Barn Owl drops in to say Hi to The Queen and makes page three in the Today Newspaper	The static display with Lady and my working Springer "Rosie"	Alan and Lady make the front page on the opening day of the Balmoral Show with a picture he set up in advance.
Alan with Captain Mark Phillips who was also sponsored by Land Rover.	HRH Princess Anne and her party visit the display at the Royal Cornwall Show's Country Arena.	The static display of birds was often incorporated into the Land Rover's Dealer stand.