In 1987 the Royal New Zealand Air Force celebrated its 50th Anniversary and to commemorate the occasion Skyhawk TA-4G NZ 6256 (previously N13-154903/881) received a special overall gold paint scheme. Supplementing this were traditional red / white / and blue bands, the stars of the southern Cross on the aircraft tail and a commemorative scroll under the cockpit.
NZ 6256 received it’s special paint scheme in December 1986 and after approximately a year of publicising the anniversary returned to the standard low viz scheme.
The accompanying photographs were taken at the Wings and Wheels day held at RNZAF Base Wigram in early 1987. Of note the Golden Skyhawk also attended 50th Anniversary celebrations at the Christchurch International 50th Anniversary Airshow 28th and 29th March, RNZAF 50th Anniversary Celebration at Wigram 1 April, 50th Anniversary Airshow at RNZAF Base Ohakes on 4th and 5th of April and the 50th Anniversary Airshow at RNZAF Base Whenuapai on 11th and 12th of April.
Prior to the application of the full anniversary scheme on the aircraft the red, white and blue pattern had been hand painted on the port side over the RAN gull grey / white scheme.
NZ 6256 received it’s special paint scheme in December 1986 and after approximately a year of publicising the anniversary returned to the standard low viz scheme.
The accompanying photographs were taken at the Wings and Wheels day held at RNZAF Base Wigram in early 1987. Of note the Golden Skyhawk also attended 50th Anniversary celebrations at the Christchurch International 50th Anniversary Airshow 28th and 29th March, RNZAF 50th Anniversary Celebration at Wigram 1 April, 50th Anniversary Airshow at RNZAF Base Ohakes on 4th and 5th of April and the 50th Anniversary Airshow at RNZAF Base Whenuapai on 11th and 12th of April.
Prior to the application of the full anniversary scheme on the aircraft the red, white and blue pattern had been hand painted on the port side over the RAN gull grey / white scheme.
NZ 6255 and NZ 6215 on Static Display at the PDL Airshow at Christchurch International Airport, 1987.
This album of images is from a photo sortie flown on the 17th of December 1986. On this flight I was tasked with taking publicity photos of 2 Squadron's TA-4G Skyhawk NZ6256 which had been painted in a gold commemorative colour scheme (the 'B&H Special') for the RNZAF's 50th Anniversary. This was to be celebrated in April 1987 and the gold T-bird was the anniversary flagship. The colour scheme was designed by 2 Squadron personnel Flt Sgt Brian Purdey, AC Glen Turner and Cpl Derek Cooper. Photography took place over the Wellington area, Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island, up toward the Central Plateau of the North Island, and just north of Ohakea.
NZ6256 was flown by 2 Squadron CO, Sqn Ldr Jim Jennings. The camera T-bird was flown by Flt Lt Glenn Todd, an instructor on 2 Squadron.
Some recollections: After taxiing off the 2 Squadron flightline we took off and climbed out to the south, arriving over the Wellington area at 25,000 feet plus ... we then crossed to the South Island passing over Farewell Spit and turned to transit back to the north ... crossing the coast to the west of Wanganui heading toward the Central Plateau we came across an area of dramatic cloud formations which made a great backdrop for several photos ... we then turned back toward Ohakea and after finding an open area clear of cloud we completed the photography with some formation loops ... here the flight got quite interesting ... during the flight briefing we had discussed taking an image similar to the cover of the recently published book about Chuck Yeager which had a plan view of an F-20 Tigershark in the vertical ... after a couple of normal loops we set up for this shot ... climbing to the vertical Jim rolled his aircraft to present the top down view but inadvertantly held in a little back pressure on the stick changing the plane of his loop toward us ... I shot one frame of film and in the second or two it took to wind the film on the gold T-bird was now completely filling the camera frame ... both pilots talked urgently as they recognised what was happening ... Jim rolled his aircraft back 90 degrees and skidded in to a tight echelon left on us ... I could see his nose over my left shoulder only a few metres away ... we then rolled belly to belly and continued the loop away in opposite directions ... giving any further attempts a miss we headed home to Ohakea.
Story and Pics via FaceBook, All photos by Chris Rarere except where indicated.
All images ©RNZAF Museum.
NZ6256 was flown by 2 Squadron CO, Sqn Ldr Jim Jennings. The camera T-bird was flown by Flt Lt Glenn Todd, an instructor on 2 Squadron.
Some recollections: After taxiing off the 2 Squadron flightline we took off and climbed out to the south, arriving over the Wellington area at 25,000 feet plus ... we then crossed to the South Island passing over Farewell Spit and turned to transit back to the north ... crossing the coast to the west of Wanganui heading toward the Central Plateau we came across an area of dramatic cloud formations which made a great backdrop for several photos ... we then turned back toward Ohakea and after finding an open area clear of cloud we completed the photography with some formation loops ... here the flight got quite interesting ... during the flight briefing we had discussed taking an image similar to the cover of the recently published book about Chuck Yeager which had a plan view of an F-20 Tigershark in the vertical ... after a couple of normal loops we set up for this shot ... climbing to the vertical Jim rolled his aircraft to present the top down view but inadvertantly held in a little back pressure on the stick changing the plane of his loop toward us ... I shot one frame of film and in the second or two it took to wind the film on the gold T-bird was now completely filling the camera frame ... both pilots talked urgently as they recognised what was happening ... Jim rolled his aircraft back 90 degrees and skidded in to a tight echelon left on us ... I could see his nose over my left shoulder only a few metres away ... we then rolled belly to belly and continued the loop away in opposite directions ... giving any further attempts a miss we headed home to Ohakea.
Story and Pics via FaceBook, All photos by Chris Rarere except where indicated.
All images ©RNZAF Museum.