Royal New Zealand Air Force Black Falcons soaring south this weekend

The five-strong team, flying the T-6C Texan II aircraft, will conduct a flypast of the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre on Kaitorete Spit (south of Banks Peninsula) at 11am on Friday 9 February, then display at 5.20pm over Invercargill’s Oreti Beach for the Burt Munro Classic.

On Saturday 10 February the team will display first at St Kilda Beach in Dunedin (11.30am), then in the vicinity of the Pier at New Brighton Beach, Christchurch, at 4.35pm.

Team member, Squadron Leader Michael Williams, said the Ohakea-based pilots were looking forward to their first trip south this year.

“It’s a real pleasure to bring our displays to people any time, but on this trip we’ll be seeing quite a bit of the South Island, so lots of people will see us in turn,” he said.

“For us it’s a chance to demonstrate a key element of our Air Force’s range of capabilities.

“This type of flying is fantastic to be part of as a pilot, but it also practises and sharpens key military flying skills. So while it’s great to watch and hopefully showcases an Air Force that New Zealanders can be proud of, there’s a serious side to the extra training and practise involved in display flying.

“Our Texan aircraft is the one on which all RNZAF pilots learn to fly, so we also hope this weekend’s displays will inspire some of the young people who see us. It could be them up there one day.”

Black Falcons display details

• Flypast of Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre on Kaitorete Spit (Banks Peninsula): 11am, Friday 9 February
• Display at Oreti Beach (Invercargill) for the Burt Munro Classic: 5.20pm, Friday 9 February
• Display at St Kilda Beach (Dunedin): 11.30am, Saturday 10 February
• Display in the vicinity of the pier, New Brighton Beach (Christchurch): 4.35pm, Saturday 10 February

See the full season display schedule here.