Red Checkers

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	CT-4E Airtrainer (1998-2015) CT-4B Airtrainer (1980-1998), T-6 Texan (1967-1973)

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

External links

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