Red Checkers
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Red Checkers | |
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![]() Red Checkers Air Trainers in formation | |
Active | 1967-1973, 1980-2015. |
Disbanded | January 2015 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Type | Aerobatic display team |
Role | Display team |
Size | Seven pilots |
Garrison/HQ | Central Flying School RNZAF, RNZAF Base Ohakea |
Nickname(s) | The Checkers |
Colors | Red and White |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | Red and White checkers |
Aircraft flown | |
Trainer |
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The Red Checkers was the aerobatic/precision flying Team of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Checkers fly the Pacific Aerospace CT-4E Airtrainer. Previous aircraft used were the CT4B and North American Harvard (T-6). Until the year 1994 the Checkers were based at Wigram. Aircraft used by the team had a nose painted in a red and white checkered pattern, but this has now been reduced to a small checkered stripe.
In 1973 the team was disbanded due to a world fuel crisis but was formed again in 1980.
The team is known for its mirror flying displays. It is the only RNZAF team to have a sustained history, the "Jetabatic" de Havilland Vampire team and "Kiwi Red" A-4 Skyhawk team lasted only a few years.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/AK_07-0107-73_-_Flickr_-_NZ_Defence_Force.jpg/300px-AK_07-0107-73_-_Flickr_-_NZ_Defence_Force.jpg)
Red Checker pilots are senior flying instructors from the RNZAF's Central Flying School and Pilot Training Squadron situated at RNZAF Base Ohakea.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/AK_07-0107-75_-_Flickr_-_NZ_Defence_Force.jpg/300px-AK_07-0107-75_-_Flickr_-_NZ_Defence_Force.jpg)
Incidents[]
Squadron Leader Nick Cree was killed when the CT-4 training aircraft he was flying hit the ground while practicing aerial display manoeuvres near RNZAF Base Ohakea on 14 January 2010.[1]
On 1 March 2010 two aircraft touched during training with one aircraft incurring minor damage. The Red Checkers were grounded for the rest of the season.[2]
Disbandment[]
The Red Checkers display team was disbanded following the arrival of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II and retirement of the CT-4 Airtrainer. They were replaced by the Black Falcons, who fly the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II.
References[]
- ^ Michael Forbes and Dave Burgess (15 January 2010). "Pilot gave life '100 per cent'". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ "Red Checkers grounded after latest accident". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Red Checkers. |
- Central Flying School at the RNZAF website
- Units and formations of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
- Aerobatic teams