Kiwi Red - "Six of the Best"

[Dave Homewood]

I am currently watching a video I bought in 1989 or 1990, called Kiwi Red - Six of the Best.

This follows the RNZAF's premium display team, No. 75 Squadron's six-ship Kiwi Red Skyhawks.

This is the first time i have watched it in around ten years I guess. At the time I bought it, I loved it, but it was really just a video covering something current that 'we' were doing. I was then in the RNZAF and saw such things as flightlines, aircraft and pilots every day.

Now it has taken on seriously more significance. It is an absolutely amazing time capsule of history, something we'll never see again.

The cover state's it is a Victory production, directed and produced by Doug Hamilton. Sadly I am not aware of any of his other work, because I have to say, now that i have spent some years studying and making documentary myself, this one really must be congratualted.

There is no seperation between the viewer and the action, no 'voice of god' narrator to tell you what's going on. This is purely and smiply the members of the squadron and their wives telling their story, first hand. It is mostly observational, you see everything as it happens, and hear what's happening. It does not concentarate on the glory boys, but also on the mechs and techs and backroom Johnnies. And as mentioned, the families.

About 35 minutes into it, the style changes when archive footage breaks in showing the Skyhawks arriving at Auckland by boat, in black and white with period narration. Then some historic photos of 75 Sqn from WWII through to 1980's. It then returns to 1989/90 season, "present day" with the team having a press call before the show season starts. And it gets back into the story from there following the airshows - with some other great types seen too like Sea Fury, Spitfire and Fokker Trimotor

The story is told not just by the observational shots following what's going on, but with sound bytes from interviews over the top. Plus it has some great music.

I have to say the sequences at the beginning duringthe practices, where you fly along with the team over the green-grey sea, through clouds and blue blue sky, it's simply mesmarising.

This has to be one of the best aviation videos from NZ.

'Six of the Best' is simply the best!

[Damon]

Funnily enough Dave I watched the same video just yesturday.I bought my copy on TradMe..
Great action and some fantastic shots exp the on board ones.

Damon

[mumbles]

I love the shot where the team walks line abreast from the far side of the hangar dressed in their flying kit, only to squeeze one by one through the door as they pass the camera. Convenient they were all standing that way huh...... ;D
I couldn't wangle a day off school to see that Wellington display, although I did see them fly over on the run-in down the Hutt Valley.

[xr6turbo1]

I agree, it is one of the best videos covering a special part of NZs aviation history.

I havent watched it for a few years but the head on pass by the T Bird is burned in my memory.

[phil82]

No package required! Simple internet organisation of flights and accommodation, then this:

www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/airshow/transport.htm

[phil82]

There used to be a very-long time-served SNCO worked in the 75 Sqn line office, where the last thing a pilot does before flight is sign for the aircraft, and I have it on very good authority that one day a very new Flying Officer wandered up complete with kit ready to fly, and asked "Is my aircraft ready Chief?".

Without looking up from the paperwork, Chiefy replied: "It's not your aircraft; it's mine until I give it to you, now trot off back to the crew-room until I tell you". Exit one very chastened knuck.