Red Checkers
In 1967 from Central Flying School of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is formed the Red Checkers aerobatic team, who flies with five Harvard airplanes. The planes are painted in standard paint scheme in red and white. This is the reason for the team's name. In the 1973 Red Checkers are disbanded, because of world petrol crisis.
Again the team is reestablished in 1980, but this time flying with four CT-4B Airtrainer planes. Later to the team is added fifth plane for solo displays.
In 1994 all RNZAF CT-4B Airtrainer planes are painted in yellow and black, including team's planes. This is the paradox, that team named RED Checkers, flies on YELLOW painted planes.
In 1999 they transit to CT-4E Airtrainer planes and receive sixth plane.
Red Checkers consist of six CT-4E Airtrainers planes and one spare, equiped with white smoke generators. All of the team pilots are instructors from Flight Training School at Ohakea airbase and the ground crew too. The team has no permanent statute of aerobatic team.
Red paint scheme Harvard
Red paint scheme CT-4B
Present yellow paint scheme
Thanks to Wagner Nascimento for a help to increase this page
