RNZAF Red Checkers over Wanaka

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Sat, 28 Feb 2009
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Student pilots and instructors listen to the morning briefing. Clothes dry on the side of a tent. Pilot helmets, maps, and flight books sit ready for operations. Merv Hodgson of ground support works on the engine of a CT-4/E Airtrainer. Ground support aircrewman Sonny Chippindale clears a windscreen. A student pilot prepares his Airtrainer ahead of a day of formation flying exercises. Air traffic controllers Suzy Ellice and Mark Miller, both of RNZAF Base Ohakea. A pilot and instructor prepare themselves before taking to the air for a formation flying training exercise. Over Wanaka town. Pilots gather in formation above Lake Wanaka with, from left, Edgewater Resort and Rippon Vineyard, Ruby Island, and Eely Point, below. Over Wanaka town. Group Captain Steve Davies-Howard keeps an eye on the training manouevres. A formation viewed from beneath. RNZAF pilots have been training and practising their flying formations in the skies above Wanaka airport for the past week.
 
The Royal New Zealand Air Force formation-flying excercise Wiseowl at Wanaka Airport includes an open day and a chance to watch the Red Checkers team, flying PAC CT4 Airtrainer pilot training craft. The open day starts at 10:30am and runs until 2:30pm today. Photos by Matthew Haggart, prints available from otagoimages.co.nz.

 

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