*** Welcome to piglix ***

Black Falcons

RNZAF Black Falcons
Beechcraft T-6 Texan flying by.jpg
A Beechcraft T-6 Texan II like the ones used by the Black Falcons.
Active January – December 2000
January 2016 – present
Country New Zealand New Zealand
Branch Air Force Ensign of New Zealand.svg Royal New Zealand Air Force
Type Aerobatic Display Team
Size 5 x Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
Garrison/HQ RNZAF Base Ohakea
Colors Black and white
Mascot(s) New Zealand Falcon
Equipment Beechcraft T-6 Texan II

The Black Falcons is the aerobatic display team of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The team was first formed in 2000 using five Aermacchi MB-339CB aircraft from No. 14 Squadron, flown by 14 Squadron instructors. The first of five displays was held on 1 January 2000 at the Gisborne Millennium and the team disbanded later that year.

In January 2016 Central Flying School (CFS) began flying 11 Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, sharing the aircraft with No. 14 Squadron. The previous RNZAF Red Checkers display team was disbanded, and the newly formed group was named the RNZAF Black Falcons. The team is made up of Qualified Flying Instructors of the Central Flying School and No.14 Squadron. The bulk of the team generally come from CFS, with the Team Leader (Black Falcon 1), normally also holding the post of Officer Commanding Central Flying School.

The new team's first display was scheduled for the 2017 Wings over Wairarapa airshow, although bad weather caused the displays to be canceled. Instead the first display was held at the RNZAF 80th Anniversary Air Tatto at the team's home base, RNZAF Base Ohakea the following week.

The pilots for the 2016-2017 display team are.


...
Wikipedia

...