Red Checkers
Red Checkers team patch
Active1967-1973, 1980-2015.
DisbandedJanuary 2015
Country New Zealand
BranchRoyal New Zealand Air Force
TypeAerobatic display team
RoleDisplay team
SizeSeven pilots
Garrison/HQCentral Flying School RNZAF, RNZAF Base Ohakea
Nickname(s)The Checkers
ColorsRed and White
Insignia
Identification
symbol		Red and White checkers
Aircraft flown
Trainer

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.

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

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ "Red Checkers grounded after latest accident". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Red Checkers.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.