MILAVIA > Air Shows > Display Teams > Red Checkers Last updated: 2 May 2017
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Display Teams : Red Checkers

Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers

Country New Zealand
Unit Central Flying School
Base RNZAF Base Ohakea
Aircraft 5 x CT-4E Airtrainers

The RNZAF’s only aerobatic team is made of senior instructors from the Air Force’s Central Flying School (CFS) and Pilot Training Squadron operating the CT-4E Airtrainer. Performing at upwards of 25 airshows and events around the country, the team consists of five aircraft breaking up into fourship formation or two synchronized pairs and one solo display until reforming for the Spaghetti Break finale.

The team’s history can be traced back to the late 1940s when it was formed by the CFS, which was then using the Harvard for pilot training. In 1967 the CFS team was officially named the ‘Red Checkers’. The names was derived from the pattern of the formation of Harvards with their red wingtips and tails in combination with the CFS instructors being known as 'checkers' for the check flights of the pilot instructors. The Wigram Airshow on 5 November 1967 to mark 50 years of flying training at Wigram was the first display for the CFS team under the Red Checkers name flying Harvards with the red and white checkered cowlings.
The Red Checkers team performed annually until 1973 when the global oil crisis lead to their disbanding. In 1980 the team was reformed using four CT-4B Airtrainer ab initio trainers. Soon a fifth aircraft was added again to allow for an integrated solo routine. The CFS and thus the Red Checkers team was based at Wigram until it closed in 1993, and then moved to the current base at Ohakea. The 1996 season was the last with the aircraft in International Orange (red) and Dove Grey colour scheme, all RNZAF CT-4B Airtrainer aircraft were re-painted in yellow and black, similar to the CT-4E of today.
In 1999, the Red Checkers moved onto the new CT-4E Airtrainer with better performance than the CT-4B. The Red Checkers flew displays with six aircraft in 1999-2001 and also in 2004. But then returned to five aircraft display.
The Red Checkers were grounded in 2010 following two incidents. Squadron Leader Nick Cree was killed while practicing aerial display manoeuvres near RNZAF Base Ohakea on 14 January 2010. Then also during training, on 1 March 2010 two aircraft touched with one aircraft incurring minor damage. In 2011, the RNZAF Red Checkers resumed flying airshow display seasons again.

Starting in 2015 the formation aerobatics team will reform with the RNZAF’s new T-6C Texan II aircraft, which has replaced the CT-4E Airtrainers. The new display team has been named Black Falcons.

RNZAF Red Checkers Photo Gallery

RNZAF Red Checkers 2012 : RNZAF 75th Anniversary Air Show - Ohakea © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2012 : RNZAF 75th Anniversary Air Show - Ohakea © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2012 : RNZAF 75th Anniversary Air Show - Ohakea © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2012 : RNZAF 75th Anniversary Air Show - Ohakea © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2010 : Warbirds over Wanaka 2010 © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2009 : RNZAF Open Day 2009 - Whenuapai © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2009 : RNZAF Open Day 2009 - Whenuapai © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2009 : RNZAF Open Day 2009 - Whenuapai © Chris Gee

RNZAF Red Checkers 2009 : RNZAF Open Day 2009 - Whenuapai © Chris Gee

    RNZAF Red Checkers Air Shows