Black Falcons

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

RNZAF Black Falcons
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
Active	January – December 2000 January 2016 – present
Country	New Zealand
Branch	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

Original formation

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.[1]

Reinstatement

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 (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 cancelled. Instead the first display was held at the RNZAF 80th Anniversary Air Tattoo at the team's home base, RNZAF Base Ohakea the following week.[2][3][4] [5]

References

1. "No. 14 Squadron Display Teams".
2. "New air force planes 'a huge step up'".
3. "SunLive - Black Falcons named in Tauranga - The Bay's News First".
4. Hartigan, Brian (17 November 2015). "Black Falcons to feature at Ohakea Air Show".
5. http://www.wings.org.nz/