Black Falcons gear up for season ending flypast in Taupō this weekend

The crew will fly over the Taupō International Motorsport Park, where the Australian V8 Supercars Championship is making its highly anticipated debut at another New Zealand circuit.

It will be the last flight of the season for the Black Falcons, who have appeared up and down the country at a wide variety of events and occasions over the summer.

The five-strong team, flying the T-6C Texan II aircraft, will conduct the flypast at 2.55pm subject to weather conditions and other operational considerations.

Team member Squadron Leader Michael Williams said the pilots have had a great season, delivering both displays and flypasts to audiences all over the country. 

“This level of flying, whether it’s a display or a close-formation flypast such as we’ll be doing at Taupō, is fantastic to be part of as a pilot. It also practises and sharpens key military flying skills, and demonstrates a key element of our Air Force’s range of capabilities,” he said. 

Squadron Leader Williams said the team had received a great reception throughout the country this season and were made to feel incredibly welcome everywhere they went.

“I’d also like to acknowledge and thank all the people who in their own way have been part of our season. There are many trades in the Air Force who play an essential part in what we do, and we would not be able to do it without them,” he said. 

“There are also those who help and support us in the wider aviation community – again, without their good will and help, our visits to New Zealand communities would not happen, and we thank them for their efforts on our behalf.”