 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Red Checkers" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Red Checkers | |
|---|---|
 Red Checkers team patch | |
| Active | 1967–1973, 1980–2015. |
| Disbanded | January 2015 |
| Country |  New Zealand |
| 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 |
|
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.
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.
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
- Central Flying School at the RNZAF website
