Canterbury pilot follows his dreams with RNZAF Black Falcons

The Black Falcons display season is underway and will culminate with a show during Easter at the Warbirds over Wanaka air show.

Growing up in Timaru and then Christchurch, where he attended Burnside High School, Squadron Leader Stapp credits joining the Air Training Corps (ATC) as a youth with providing the foundations to understand what life would be like in the military, fuelling his passion for aviation after attending a flying course at RNZAF Base Woodbourne through ATC.

After enlisting with the RNZAF in 2007 and completing the Wings course, he was inspired by watching the Air Force’s former aerobatics team the Red Checkers.

“I remember thinking that the flying just looked really cool. I always thought I'd love to be a part of that one day, I wasn't sure if I'd ever have the chance to or not.”

But the opportunity arose and Squadron Leader Stapp is enjoying his first season with the Black Falcons, flying in the team’s number three position.

“I’m loving it. It's challenging and certainly tests your abilities as a pilot, but it's so rewarding. There’s an extra level of focus during dynamic manoeuvres requiring lots of small corrections to stay in position while you're pulling up to 4G in formation.”

Teamwork is a crucial aspect of being a Black Falcons pilot and a huge amount of planning goes into each display, combined with support from a wide range of ground units and the maintenance team before pilots even get into the aircraft.

“In the airborne environment we all know what everyone else is doing in the display, so while we're focussing on our own manoeuvres we're also providing support to the lead pilot and our other team mates.”

Squadron Leader Stapp’s RNZAF career began with No. 40 Squadron and the C-130H Hercules, where he spent six years conducting a diverse range of flying, from operational tours in the Middle East, to ice missions to Antarctica and transport operations throughout the United States, Europe and the South Pacific.

He returned to RNZAF Base Ohakea, completing the Flying Instructors Course on the T-6C Texans before undertaking a tour at No. 42 Squadron as the Operations Flight Commander, instructing on the MC-12K King Air 350 for five years.

Squadron Leader Stapp is currently the Officer Commanding of Central Flying School (CFS), which is responsible for the training of Qualified Flying Instructors and maintaining flying instructional standards. CFS is also responsible for providing the Black Falcons display team.

When flying a display, pilots can sometimes see crowds waving to them and for any child looking up wishing they could be in the cockpit one day, Squadron Leader Stapp said they should follow that dream.

“Pilots have to put in the hard work, but it’s absolutely worth it and is one of the most rewarding things I've done. Follow your dreams and follow your passions.”