Royal New Zealand Air Force Black Falcons aerobatic team to tour upper North Island

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) Black Falcons aerobatic team will be seen in many parts of the upper North Island this weekend.

12 March, 2026

The team will operate from RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai and fly in formation over many towns on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March, targeting main city centres where possible.

On Saturday morning, the six aircraft will fly north in formation along the western side of Northland to Kaitaia before returning to Whenuapai along the eastern side of Northland and Auckland. The team will refuel before conducting an afternoon flight around the Coromandel Peninsula to Waihi before returning to Whenuapai.

On Sunday morning, the team will fly to Gisborne via Waikato, Bay of Plenty and East Cape, and land at Gisborne to refuel before the final leg back to their home of RNZAF Base Ohakea. All stages of the tour are subject to weather and other operational considerations.

From left to right: SQNLDR Richard O’Flaherty, FO Matt Biggar, LTCDR Stephen Knowles, SQNLDR Paul Stockley, FLTLT James Erskine, SQNLDR Matt Stapp, WO Darren Smith and SQNLDR Paul Harrison.

Team member Lieutenant Commander Stephen Knowles said the team was looking forward to the tour.

“We’ve often thought about such a series of sorties, in addition to our displays and flypasts at specific events which are the main elements of a Black Falcons season.

“The calendar and our display commitments have worked in our favour this month, and in the course of this tour many members of the New Zealand public will be able to observe the Black Falcons flying in formation, which in itself is an important component of the military flying skills that are needed on the operations and exercises we are required to undertake,” he said.