Central North Island Displays
February 12 and the team were airborne again with daily practices of approximately one hours duration over the next three day period. As well as the normal team practise on the Tuesday, popular Radio New Zealand announcer and talk back show host, George Balany was given the privilege of joining the selected few, being taken up over the Raumai training area as passenger with Red 1 in TA-4K NZ6256. That evening Wing Commander Bates appeared as a guest on George’s radio talk back show.
The Royal New Zealand Aero Club Championships and Pageant at the Richard Pearce Airport near Timaru saw the Kiwi Reds departing Ohakea for a short deployment to Christchuch from where they would provide the highlight performance in what was already a very spectacular line up and presentation by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.On the transit flight south on Friday 16th Corporal Nixon was tasked with the taking of air-to-air shots of the team.
Runway loading limitations prevented the use of the Timaru facilities and the team operated out of Christchuch. After the display however, the pilots were transported back to Timaru by an Andover to meet the public and sign autographs.
The 50 minute flight to return to Ohakea was undertaken on Sunday 18th. The planned display over Wanganui to follow the practise session on Wednesday 21 February was called off when at the last minute when one of theSkyhawks, NZ 6204 piloted by Red 3 developed a flying control problem. Abandoning the trip Red 3 accompanied by Red 5 returned to Base Ohakea for an uneventful landing. With only six aircraft on the squadron and a six ship routine an aircraft going 'u/s' created, although temporary, an insurmountable problem. The next day however all six aircraft were back in the skies again this time undertaking an hour long tiki tour.
Sorties out of Ohakea saw the team undertaking a display over Taupo before returning to complete the display they had been unable to perform over Wanganui on the 23th The 24th saw displays over Woodville, as part of the Woodville Festival, Bulls as part of the Bulls Anniversary Celebrations and Appiti on the 24th.
A two break over the 25th and 26th was followed up a by a 40 minute practise session prior to returning to the 'road' and undertaking cameo's at Wairou and Napier on the 27th. The last day of February saw the presentation of displays to Hastings and Dannevirke in a one hour sortie ex-Base Ohakea.
On March 1 and 2 the team executed another two sorties of approximately one hours duration each to take the performances to New Plymouth and Marton respectively. Accompanying the trip on the 1st were Flying Officer Nicholls piloting NZ 6252, with Flight Lieutenant Jackson in the backseat to video the display.
The re-scheduled New Zealand Warbirds Airshow at Ardmore on March 4 saw the team in accompaniment of additional aircraft NZ 6252 and NZ 6256, head back to Auckland, on this occasion operating in and out off Ardmore airfield. The show date had been changed to coincide with the replica "Southern Cross's" visit, this unique aircraft having been brought over from Australia to participate in the 1990 festivities and also undertake a tour of the country.
On this occasion the Auckland weather faltered, although did not completely fail and low cloud forced the team to 'restrict' their performance to the flat display. A routine which although eliminate the high loops and vertical bomb burst of the 'full' routine does include another spectacular manoeuvre, the delta dirty pass.
The Royal New Zealand Aero Club Championships and Pageant at the Richard Pearce Airport near Timaru saw the Kiwi Reds departing Ohakea for a short deployment to Christchuch from where they would provide the highlight performance in what was already a very spectacular line up and presentation by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.On the transit flight south on Friday 16th Corporal Nixon was tasked with the taking of air-to-air shots of the team.
Runway loading limitations prevented the use of the Timaru facilities and the team operated out of Christchuch. After the display however, the pilots were transported back to Timaru by an Andover to meet the public and sign autographs.
The 50 minute flight to return to Ohakea was undertaken on Sunday 18th. The planned display over Wanganui to follow the practise session on Wednesday 21 February was called off when at the last minute when one of theSkyhawks, NZ 6204 piloted by Red 3 developed a flying control problem. Abandoning the trip Red 3 accompanied by Red 5 returned to Base Ohakea for an uneventful landing. With only six aircraft on the squadron and a six ship routine an aircraft going 'u/s' created, although temporary, an insurmountable problem. The next day however all six aircraft were back in the skies again this time undertaking an hour long tiki tour.
Sorties out of Ohakea saw the team undertaking a display over Taupo before returning to complete the display they had been unable to perform over Wanganui on the 23th The 24th saw displays over Woodville, as part of the Woodville Festival, Bulls as part of the Bulls Anniversary Celebrations and Appiti on the 24th.
A two break over the 25th and 26th was followed up a by a 40 minute practise session prior to returning to the 'road' and undertaking cameo's at Wairou and Napier on the 27th. The last day of February saw the presentation of displays to Hastings and Dannevirke in a one hour sortie ex-Base Ohakea.
On March 1 and 2 the team executed another two sorties of approximately one hours duration each to take the performances to New Plymouth and Marton respectively. Accompanying the trip on the 1st were Flying Officer Nicholls piloting NZ 6252, with Flight Lieutenant Jackson in the backseat to video the display.
The re-scheduled New Zealand Warbirds Airshow at Ardmore on March 4 saw the team in accompaniment of additional aircraft NZ 6252 and NZ 6256, head back to Auckland, on this occasion operating in and out off Ardmore airfield. The show date had been changed to coincide with the replica "Southern Cross's" visit, this unique aircraft having been brought over from Australia to participate in the 1990 festivities and also undertake a tour of the country.
On this occasion the Auckland weather faltered, although did not completely fail and low cloud forced the team to 'restrict' their performance to the flat display. A routine which although eliminate the high loops and vertical bomb burst of the 'full' routine does include another spectacular manoeuvre, the delta dirty pass.
After a week in which two one hour practice sorties were flown on March 7 and 11 it was back to the capital. The itinerary had planned a display for the Crippled Children's Association at Palmerston North on the 10th, this display was however cancelled and the team did not fly on that day.
Originally it had been planned for Kiwi Red to display as part of the Wellington Sesi-Centennial Carnival on Sunday 11 March. The carnival had however collapsed in the week leading up to this event but it was decided to proceed with the Kiwi Red display. But once again the Wellington weather was to intervene and storm conditions even worse than those on December 3, 1989 not only forced the cancellation of the performance but closed Wellington's airport for the day. Wellington would have to once again wait.
Originally it had been planned for Kiwi Red to display as part of the Wellington Sesi-Centennial Carnival on Sunday 11 March. The carnival had however collapsed in the week leading up to this event but it was decided to proceed with the Kiwi Red display. But once again the Wellington weather was to intervene and storm conditions even worse than those on December 3, 1989 not only forced the cancellation of the performance but closed Wellington's airport for the day. Wellington would have to once again wait.