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Red Checkers tour and display dates

The Red Checkers will be out and about all over the country performing aerobatic displays to coincide with 75th Anniversary celebrations.

Along with anniversary displays at major events, the Red Checkers will be performing a special anniversary roadshow to mark the Air Force’s 75th birthday. Dates and locations are as follow:

  • Sunday 25 March - Auckland waterfront
  • Sunday 25 March - Mt Maunganui
  • Monday 26 March - Rotorua waterfront
  • Tuesday 27 March - Gisborne Waterfront
  • Tuesday 27 March - Taupo waterfront
  • Wednesday 28 March - New Plymouth
  • Saturday 31 March - Air Force Air Show Ohakea
  • Monday 2 April - Wellington
  • Modnay 2 April - Kaikoura
  • Tuesday 3 April - Timaru
  • Wednesday 4 April - Dunedin
  • 6-9 April - Wanaka.

NB: dates are subject to change.

About the Red Checkers

Squadron Leader Oliver Bint joined the RNZAF in 1995 and has completed two operational tours flying in the Iroquois and the Hercules. He has flown around the world to places including East Timor, the Middle East and Antarctica. SQNLDR Bint is currently the Officer Commanding of Central Flying School, the unit responsible for training RNZAF flying instructors.

Squadron Leader Matt Alcock joined the Royal Air Force in 1970 where he flew Puma helicopters for eight years, from the Arctic Circle to as far south as Mozambique. He became an instructor on the Tucano turboprop before moving ‘on loan’ to Brunei. He spent four years in Brunei and during that time he first visited NZ. A further two years were spent back in the UK before he shifted to the RNZAF. He has now lived Fielding for four years.

Squadron Leader Barry ‘Baz’ Nicholson joined the RNZAF in 1993 in the Avionics trade. After a few years on the hangar floor working on C-130s, he changed trades to become a Navigator. This experience fostered a passion to become a C-130 captain and he started pilot training in 2001. By 2006 he was a C-130 captain, operating the aircraft around the world. In 2007 he became a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and he's been in RNZAF Flying Training since. He is responsible for QFI training for both the Air Force and the Navy.

Squadron Leader Pete Cochran joined the RNZAF in 1966 and has flown Harvards, Devons, DC3s, Australian Macchis, Strikemasters and P-3 Orions. He has also flown over 5000 hrs on the CT4 aircraft, having introduced the CT4E into RNZAF service. He has been a member of 18 formation aerobatic teams and has also deployed to the Middle East and Afghanistan spending three years on peacekeeping missions.

Lieutenant Commander Wayne Theobald is from Palmerston North and joined the RNZN in January 1998 as a Seaman Officer. After approximately four years at sea from the Southern Ocean to South East Asia and the Pacific, Wayne then transferred to Naval Aviation and was awarded his Wings through the RNZAF in 2003. He qualified as a Seasprite Pilot in August 2004. Since then he has completed a wide range of deployments as the flight pilot onboard HMNZ Ships TE KAHA and CANTERBURY. He is currently instructing ab initio students at the Pilot Training School.