Aerobatic Display Teams updated - July 2007

[Dave Homewood]

Another update in the Airshow Archive now has some interesting new details and stories from pilots on the 14 Squadron page (Russell Branks and Trevor Huggard) and the 75 Squadron page (Arthur Dovey, Brian Stanley-Hunt and Trevor Huggard have contributed to this).

Trevor has sent some marvellous Vampire formation photos, and also a rare coloured shot of 14 Squadron pilots in front of a Venom on their last day in Singapore.

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_Display_Teams%20Home.htm

[FlyNavy]

Dave, That is a great composite photo on the opening page above. Did you do that? Nice. :-)
Phil.

[flyjoe180]

Agree, it looks fabulous. The site is developing well Dave.

[corsair67]

Great work their, Dave. It's coming together nicely now, and it's good to see that so many of the pilots have contacted you with further information and/or photos.

I like Frank Sharp's story about the 1973 Strikemaster aerobatic team, and especially the bit about their 'luxury' accomodation at Wigram. ;D

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks for the comments guys. Yes, I put together the composite in photoshop from photos i nicked off this very forum...

[Barnsey]

The remaining two pilots of the 14 Sqn Black Falcons were:
SQNLDR Robbie Nicholls (the team leader and CO14 at the time)
FLTLT Steve (Imran) Baker (the RAAF exchange guy - a Caribou pilot by trade. He went on to fly quite a few seasons with the Roulettes on his return to the RAAF).

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks very much Barnsey, that's great. Another couple of gaps filled.

[corsair67]

Steve Baker's still a Roulette - five years now!

Roulette Five: Steve Baker

Flight Lieutenant Steve Baker, 34, was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He joined the Air Force at the age of 18 and began flying on No. 161 Pilots course. Steve flew the PC-9/A solo before he even got his driver's licence.

After graduation in 1992, Steve was posted to fly Caribou aircraft with No 38 Squadron based at RAAF Base Amberley. Following completion of Flying Instructors course in 1996 and a year at No 2 Flying Training School, Steve was selected for an exchange posting to New Zealand, instructing on the Macchi 339 jet trainer. While in NZ, Steve was a member of the Black Falcon aerobatic display team.

On return to Australia, Steve was posted to No 79 Squadron, where he saw the introduction of the Hawk 127 into service as an instructor and display pilot.

Steve has over 4300 hours experience with 1400 hours on the PC-9/A. This is his fifth season with the team and his second as Roulette 5, having previously held the positions of Roulette Three and Roulette Six.



And I've just noticed that there's a Kiwi in the Roulettes:

Roulette Two: Derek Singer

Flight Lieutenant Derek Singer was born in Port Hedland in north-western Australia in 1969. After travelling around Australia for two years his family returned to Auckland, New Zealand.

In 1988 he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force and completed pilots' course in 1989. In his 10-year career with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he flew Andover tactical transport aircraft and completed an exchange tour with the Royal Australian Air Force flying Caribous. During his first tour in Andovers in 1993, he was deployed to Somalia for Operation Samaritan.

Derek left New Zealand and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1998. Initially posted to RAAF Base Tindal (Katherine), NT, he flew the Twin Otter and then B-200 until 2000 when he completed flying instructor's course. After a tour with No 2 Flying Training School on PC-9/A's, he was posted to RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, flying King Air KA-350's.

Derek joined Central Flying School in June 2006. He has over 5200 hours flying experience, with over 1000 hours on the PC-9/A. This is his first season with the Roulettes.

[Dave Homewood]

That's interesting, thanks Craig. I am planning to create a page for Kiwis in foreign display teams (five in the Red Arrows, several in prewar RAF teams, etc) so if anyone knows of other kiwis in past and present RAAF teams I'm keen to hear.

[Dave Homewood]

Last night I heard from Ian Wright who'd flown in both the 1972 and 1973 Red Checkers teams, two teams that I had no info on till now. I ahve added some great info that he emailed me including excellent photos here

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_Display_Teams_Checkers.htm

[corsair67]

That site's coming together nicely too, Dave. Great to have such a resource like this to read, as there's not much out there about the Red Checkers - either in print or on the internet.

Love that photo of the 1972/73 team pilots with the three Harvards - one either side and one behind. It's a classic shot.

In some ways I'm surprised that no one has released a book of the Red Checkers' history, especially to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their 'birth' this year. Maybe we'll have to wait until the 50th Anniversary to come around for such a history to be written?

[Dave Homewood]

As a matter of fact, I have written a comprehensive article to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Red Checkers, and it is currently with Rob Neil awaiting publication, probably in two parts, in Pacific Wings. I'm unsure when it will be published, soon I hope. Though I've had bits and pieces published before and have provided a lot of research for authors (aviation and otherwise) it's my first dedicated article for a professional publication so I'm looking forward to seeing it come out in print.

It, like the website, debunks a few of the myths that have lingered surrounding the team, which are still being perpetuated in the team's literature and commentary sadly. I hope the next team read the article and take heed.

[corsair67]

Looks like it was a great idea to renew my Pacific Wings subscription for another 12 months then!

I look forward to seeing your article whenever it appears.

[Dave Homewood]

I have just added some more details and comments from Ian Wright to the 1972 and 1973 Red Checkers entry.