Red checkers

Red checkers
Country:	New Zealand
Currently used aircraft type:	PAC CT / 4 airtrainer
Sponsor:	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Base airfield:	RNZAF base Ohakea
Colours:	Yellow, white, red

The Red Checkers are the Royal New Zealand Air Force's aerobatic team . The pilots fly the Pacific Aerospace PAC CT / 4 airtrainer . Previously, the Red Checkers used the CT4B and North American T-6 . Until 1994 they were based at Wigram. The planes used by the team had a nose painted in a red and white checkered pattern. The team's name is derived from this, and the logo has now been reduced to a small checkered stripe.

The team is known for its mirror flight demonstrations. It is the only Royal New Zealand Air Force team that has existed for a long time, the " katabatic " de Havilland DH.100 Vampire team and the "Kiwi Red" A-4 Skyhawk team only existed for a few years. The Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers Display Team that red checker pilots during Day RNZAF Base Auckland Open 2007 are flight instructors for the Royal New Zealand Air Force Central Flying School and pilots of the RNZAF Pilot Training Squadron at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

Accidents

Squadron Leader Nick Cree was killed on January 14, 2010. His CT-4 training aircraft hit the ground while practicing a display maneuver near RNZAF base Ohakea. On March 1, 2010, two aircraft touched each other during training. Only minor damage was caused to the aircraft. The Red Checkers were grounded for the remainder of the season.

Web links

Commons : Red Checkers  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Central Flying School on the RNZAF website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Michael Forbes and Dave Burgess: Pilot gave life '100 per cent' . In: The Dominion Post , January 15, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2011. 
2. ↑ Red Checkers grounded after latest accident . In: The New Zealand Herald , March 1, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2011.