Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2022 15:38:34 GMT 12
N.Z. Pilot In Red Arrows
(London Correspondent of “The Press”) LONDON, May 7.
For the first time since the Royal Air Force set up a premier aerobatic team in 1956, a New Zealand pilot has won a place. He is Flight Lieutenant Raynham G. Hanna, of Auckland, who will fly the number three Gnat supersonic-speed jet trainer in the team of seven — collectively known as the Red Arrows. The team is drawn from the Central Flying School at Little Rissington, Gloucestershire. Flight Lieutenant lan McKee, another New Zealander, was leader of this station’s Red Pelicans aerobatic team in 1962, which was a highly-rated jet team but was not the R.A.F.’s premier representatives.
Flight Lieutenant Hanna, who learnt to fly in Tiger Moths in Auckland with the A.T.C., has flown more than 30 types of aircraft (Hunter, Swift, Javelin, Meteor. Vampire, Venom, among others) and thinks that the Gnat — smaller than a Tiger Moth but capable of supersonic speed—is an excellent aircraft sensitive to a very delicate touch. It can climb to six miles in three minutes. The Red Arrows will be giving their spectacular air displays all round Britain and the Continent, at various air shows during the year. Speaking at Little Rissington after the team was announced, Flight Lieutenant Hanna said he got a “big kick” out of aerobatics. It was exciting but he had never been in any dangerous situations; the only thing that worried his English wife was the travel and time away from home involved.
Air Marshal Sir Patrick Dunn, the Air Officer Commander-in-Chief of R.A.F. Flying Training Command, explained that the team was made up of instructors from the Central Flying School—“the cream” who trained other instructors.
Flight Lieutenant Hanna is 36 years of age. His parents are Mr and Mrs R. Hanna, of 18 Tautari street, Orakei, Auckland. He .ook the Central Flying School course in 1962, and in 1963-64 instructed at the College of Warfare, Manby, where he was a member of the Meteor aerobatic team.
PRESS, 13 MAY 1965
(London Correspondent of “The Press”) LONDON, May 7.
For the first time since the Royal Air Force set up a premier aerobatic team in 1956, a New Zealand pilot has won a place. He is Flight Lieutenant Raynham G. Hanna, of Auckland, who will fly the number three Gnat supersonic-speed jet trainer in the team of seven — collectively known as the Red Arrows. The team is drawn from the Central Flying School at Little Rissington, Gloucestershire. Flight Lieutenant lan McKee, another New Zealander, was leader of this station’s Red Pelicans aerobatic team in 1962, which was a highly-rated jet team but was not the R.A.F.’s premier representatives.
Flight Lieutenant Hanna, who learnt to fly in Tiger Moths in Auckland with the A.T.C., has flown more than 30 types of aircraft (Hunter, Swift, Javelin, Meteor. Vampire, Venom, among others) and thinks that the Gnat — smaller than a Tiger Moth but capable of supersonic speed—is an excellent aircraft sensitive to a very delicate touch. It can climb to six miles in three minutes. The Red Arrows will be giving their spectacular air displays all round Britain and the Continent, at various air shows during the year. Speaking at Little Rissington after the team was announced, Flight Lieutenant Hanna said he got a “big kick” out of aerobatics. It was exciting but he had never been in any dangerous situations; the only thing that worried his English wife was the travel and time away from home involved.
Air Marshal Sir Patrick Dunn, the Air Officer Commander-in-Chief of R.A.F. Flying Training Command, explained that the team was made up of instructors from the Central Flying School—“the cream” who trained other instructors.
Flight Lieutenant Hanna is 36 years of age. His parents are Mr and Mrs R. Hanna, of 18 Tautari street, Orakei, Auckland. He .ook the Central Flying School course in 1962, and in 1963-64 instructed at the College of Warfare, Manby, where he was a member of the Meteor aerobatic team.
PRESS, 13 MAY 1965
