Air Force Black Falcons aerobatic team bound for Bay of Plenty

The display will take place offshore from the Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club at 1pm, with the event and timing subject to weather and other operational considerations. 

The team will depart RNZAF Base Ohakea on Friday afternoon and will fly to the Bay of Plenty via the central North Island.

On Saturday, the Black Falcons will approach Papamoa Beach from the south for the display.

Afterwards, the team will land at Tauranga Airport and two members will be at Papamoa Beach at 2.30pm to meet some of the Oceans 26 competitors and spectators. 

The Black Falcons will depart Tauranga on Sunday at 12.05pm, flying to the south-west and on to Hawera, where they will conduct a flypast of the Egmont A & P Show at Hawera at 1.00pm. 

Team member Lieutenant Commander Stephen Knowles says the Bay of Plenty is a favourite venue for the Black Falcons. 

“We’re looking forward to coming over there, we always do, although on this occasion we’re also very conscious of the recent tragedy at Mount Maunganui. While Oceans 26 is one of the chosen events of our season, for us this one is also very much in honour of the victims of that disaster and their families and the local community. 

“Every event we attend is a unique chance to show what we can do – to demonstrate the skills that military pilots learn and use in the delivery of military air operations for our country. 

“We’re hoping that some of the young people watching our display from the surf on Saturday will be on the other side of the experience one of these days – that they’ll be seeing the surf from a Black Falcons aircraft.

“It’s exhilarating to fly military aircraft and take part in aerobatic displays and we hope it will be exhilarating to watch, too.”

View more about the RNZAF Black Falcons here. You can also follow the team on Facebook(external link) or Instagram(external link) to view regular updates.