Background
The year 1990 was to be a special year for New Zealand with the XIV Commonwealth Games being stage in Auckland and the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. To celebrate this Sesqui-Centennial a wide variety of events were being sponsored and encouraged throughout the country, to this a major contribution by the Royal New Zealand Air Force was to be the reformation of the No 75 Squadron aerobatic team tasked with the major undertaking of a tour of the entire country.
Although the Royal New Zealand Air Force does not operate a full time aerobatic team when opportunity presents itself regular squadron pilots are drawn from their normal duties and shaped into a team, which in the past have developed a proud reputation.
For No 75 Squadron the of jet team aerobatics dates back to the 1950's with the pilots flying the operational aircraft of the day, the de Havilland Vampire. Through the teams ‘live’ performances around New Zealand and a New Zealand National Film Unit production made in 1958 featuring a Vampire team, ‘Jetobatics' became a household word.
Following 75 Squadrons re-equipment with the new McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk aircraft in 1970 the aerobatics tradition continued. The oil crisis of 1973 however resulted in a ban on display flying as a fuel conservation measure and it was not until 1981 with the lifting of this ban that the first full RNZAF Skyhawk aerobatic team was formed. Under the leadership of Wing Commander Goldsmith a five-man team made its debut performance at the very spectacular Ohakea Airshow, celebrating Airforce Day '81 and in doing so becoming the second only Skyhawk aerobatic team in the world. Following the show the team, nicknamed, RAGNSBQGAT (Red and Gold Nothing Special but Quite Good Aerobatic Team), was disbanded.
Although the Royal New Zealand Air Force does not operate a full time aerobatic team when opportunity presents itself regular squadron pilots are drawn from their normal duties and shaped into a team, which in the past have developed a proud reputation.
For No 75 Squadron the of jet team aerobatics dates back to the 1950's with the pilots flying the operational aircraft of the day, the de Havilland Vampire. Through the teams ‘live’ performances around New Zealand and a New Zealand National Film Unit production made in 1958 featuring a Vampire team, ‘Jetobatics' became a household word.
Following 75 Squadrons re-equipment with the new McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk aircraft in 1970 the aerobatics tradition continued. The oil crisis of 1973 however resulted in a ban on display flying as a fuel conservation measure and it was not until 1981 with the lifting of this ban that the first full RNZAF Skyhawk aerobatic team was formed. Under the leadership of Wing Commander Goldsmith a five-man team made its debut performance at the very spectacular Ohakea Airshow, celebrating Airforce Day '81 and in doing so becoming the second only Skyhawk aerobatic team in the world. Following the show the team, nicknamed, RAGNSBQGAT (Red and Gold Nothing Special but Quite Good Aerobatic Team), was disbanded.
1981 TEAM
WGCO G Goldsmith
FLTLT J Dick
FLOF I Gore
FLTLT G Howse
SQNLDR S White
WGCO G Goldsmith
FLTLT J Dick
FLOF I Gore
FLTLT G Howse
SQNLDR S White
1983, and focus was centred on Base Whenuapai in Auckland and an airshow that was to attract some 135,000 people. For this show 75 Squadron Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Lanham selected five of the squadron's pilots and worked up a routine, which was to include a totally new manoeuvre, a world first, the plugged barrel role. A manoeuvre that saw two aircraft performing a simulation of the operational task of interflight while performing a barrel roll. A manoeuvre so unique that Flight International Magazine requested and subsequently published a picture of its execution.
In 1986 the Commanding Officer of No 75 Squadron, Wing Commander Frank Sharp brought together a six man team that present, in July a formation aerobatic display at the Cook Islands first Airshow, held at Rarotonga Airport and staged by the aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force involved in NZDF Exercise Joint Venture ‘86. This team also went on to display at the Naval Air Station Nowra for the Royal Australian Navy’s 75th Anniversary on October 6 and at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Kuantan.
An important year for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1987 was the year of its 50th Anniversary and as part of the celebrations were to be a series of Golden Anniversary Airshows at Christchurch, Ohakea and Whenuapai. Included in No 75 Squadron's contribution to these shows was an aerobatic routine by a six-man team on this occasion led by Wing Commander Frank Sharp. The exploits of this team also bought the team back into the pages of Flight International, on this occasion featuring the 270 degree roll under split in a column called "miss you".
In 1986 the Commanding Officer of No 75 Squadron, Wing Commander Frank Sharp brought together a six man team that present, in July a formation aerobatic display at the Cook Islands first Airshow, held at Rarotonga Airport and staged by the aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force involved in NZDF Exercise Joint Venture ‘86. This team also went on to display at the Naval Air Station Nowra for the Royal Australian Navy’s 75th Anniversary on October 6 and at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Kuantan.
An important year for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1987 was the year of its 50th Anniversary and as part of the celebrations were to be a series of Golden Anniversary Airshows at Christchurch, Ohakea and Whenuapai. Included in No 75 Squadron's contribution to these shows was an aerobatic routine by a six-man team on this occasion led by Wing Commander Frank Sharp. The exploits of this team also bought the team back into the pages of Flight International, on this occasion featuring the 270 degree roll under split in a column called "miss you".
In 1986 the Commanding Officer of No 75 Squadron, Wing Commander Frank Sharp brought together a six man team that present, in July a formation aerobatic display at the Cook Islands first Airshow, held at Rarotonga Airport and staged by the aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force involved in NZDF Exercise Joint Venture ‘86. This team also went on to display at the Naval Air Station Nowra for the Royal Australian Navy’s 75th Anniversary on October 6 and at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Kuantan.
In 1988 it was again Wing Commander Sharp who was to draw from the ranks of the 75th Squadron its five most experienced pilots to travel across the Tasman to display at the largest airshow to ever be held in the South Pacific region - the Australian Bicentennial Airshow at RAAF Base Richmond. To this team was given the name KIWI RED, an adaptation of the prefix added to RNZAF call signs when travelling overseas and other more obvious reasons. To thousands of spectators, particularly New Zealanders and ex-patriots this team went on to steal the show, and then upon returning to New Zealand win many more fans at a lunch time performance and T.V. appearance prior to the Nissan Mobil 500 Wellington Waterfront Race on October 24.
Link to 1989/90 Souvenir Programme
It was this name, Kiwi Red, that the current 75 Squadron Commanding Officer Wing Commander John Bates, was to adopt when he formed his new team in August 1989. Changes in squadron personnel had meant the sole surviving member of the previous team was Flying Officer Peter King, who had previously flown in the No 2 slot, on the new team taking up the position of No 6. Selected to join Reds 1 and 6 were Flight Lieutenant Barry Nelson (Red 2), Flying Officer Grapham Dobson (Red 3), Flying Officer Grapham Carter (Red 4) and Flight Lieutenant Bruce Keightley (Red 5).
Selection of the manoeuvres for the 1990 routine was a team effort with the only restraint from the outset being the all important factor of safety. Co-ordinating this and having overall responsibility for the final selection was Wing Commander Bates who brought to the position a background that included participation in the Central Flying School's Wigram based Red Checkers Aerobatic Team and the role of Skyhawk display demonstrator during 1983 - 1985. Inevitably there were however sequences worked up but not used when it came to the choreography of the routine as a whole. At this stage consideration had also to be given to keeping the aerial activity in front of the crowd and the ability of the various team members to achieve this moving from one manoeuvre to the next.
This year the team would take the hallmark of the 75th Squadrons A-4 routine, the plugged barrel roll and perform it with all six aircraft participating. First pioneered in 1983 this routine was performed by just two aircraft of the team. In subsequent years it was built up to included four aircraft, then for 1990 the roll was performed in the swan formation with the 'vic' of five formatting off Red 4 in the line astern position behind Red 1, connected via the inter-flight refuelling hose.
Although the majority of the manoeuvres are based on operational flying considerable practice is required to develop the polished routine that was to thrill the public of New Zealand.
Training commenced on August 9, 1989 with Reds 2, 3,and 4 who were all experiencing Skyhawk aerobatics for the first time being worked up on an individual basis with Red 1. As these individuals rapidly improved practise switched to combined four ship routines. Meanwhile Red 5 and 6 who had flown in the No 2 slot of the 1982 / 83 teams and 1988 teams respectively and were to form the synchronised pair of this new team commenced with pairs work. Once all members were comfortable with their performances the two groups were brought together to practise the individual manoeuvres of the intended display. Final step in the process was the difficult task of co-ordination and timing of the total routine. During the work up process extensive use was made of the hand held videos that then formed an important part of each debriefing insuring errors were detected and in turn corrected.