New Zealand Airshow Display Teams
The Black Falcons
This team formed in late 2016 as the new display team of the Central Flying School of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. As the RNZAF had new training aircraft, Beechcraft Texan II's that replaced the PAC CT-4E Airtrainers, it was decided to change the CFS's team name from The Red Checkers to something new and fresh. A public competition was held and the name chosen was 'The Black Falcons'. This name had previously been used by the No. 14 Squadron RNZAF Aermacchi jet display team in the late 1990's but was now adopted for the CFS team.
The team members are made up from CFS instructors and Instructors from No. 14 Squadron RNZAF, and the tables below indicate which unit they were on that season, where known. Several of the original team had previously flown in Red Checkers teams, plus they were able to draw upon one member Sean Perrett's experiences as also a previous member of the RAF Red Arrows display team.
Display Dates Venue Pilots Position 25-26 Feb 2017
6 Apr 2017
7 Apr 2017
7 Apr 2017
8 Apr 2017
8 Apr 2017
9 Apr 2017
14-16 Apr 2017
RNZAF Ohakea Air Tattoo
RNZAF Base Woodbourne
South New Brighton, Christchurch
St Kilda Beach, Dunedin
Frankton Arm, Queenstown
Te Anau
Haulashore Island, Nelson
Classic Fighters 2017, Omaka
S/Ldr Brett Clayton
F/Lt Dan Pezaro
F/Lt Stu Anderson
S/Ldr Hayden Sheard
S/Ldr Sean Perrett
CFS
14 SQN
CFS
CFS
CFS
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
Note:
The first scheduled display for this team at Wings Over Wairarapa airshow was cancelled when weather washed out the airshow, so they made their debut at home at the Ohakea Air Tattoo which marked 80 years of the RNZAF as an independent air arm.
Falcon 6 for this season was Flight Lieutenant Mike Williams, who was team commentator and spare pilot, and Falcon 7 (Team Manager ) was Warrant Officer Ash Wilson.
2017/18 Black Falcons Team ___________________________________________Beech Texan II25 Nov 2017
_20 Jan 2018
_20 Jan 2018
_16-18 Feb 2018
9 Mar 2018
10 Mar 2018
11 Mar 2018
17 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018
26 Mar 2018
29 Mar- 1 Apr 2018
South New Brighton Beach, Christchurch
Walsh Memorial Flying School,
MatamataClassics To The Sky
Tauranga City AirshowArt Deco Weekend, Napier
Kaikoura
Hokitika Wild Foods Festival
Nelson
Central Districts Field Days
MOTAT Military Day
St Kilda Beach, Dunedin
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2018
S/Ldr Brett Clayton
F/Lt Alex Joel RAAF
F/Lt Dan Pezaro
F/Lt Hayden Sheard
S/Ldr Sean Perrett
CFS
14 SQN
CFS
CFS
CFS
Red 1
Red 2
Red 3
Red 4
No. 5
Notes:
A planned display at Balloons Over Waikato in Hamilton was cancelled due to poor weatherFalcon 6 for this season was Squadron Leader Barry "Patch" Nelson, who had previously been a member of the 1989/1990 Kiwi Red display team
Falcon 7 Team Manager for this season was Warrant Officer David Sleator