The Black Falcons is the aerobatic display team of the
Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Original formation
The team was first formed in 2000 using five
Aermacchi MB-339CB aircraft from
No. 14 Squadron, flown by 14 Squadron instructors. The first of five displays was held on 1 January 2000 at the
Gisborne Millennium and the team disbanded later that year.
Reinstatement
In January 2016
Central Flying School (CFS) began flying 11
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company ( Textron Aviation since 2014). A trainer aircraft based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 has replaced the United States Air Force's Cessna ...
, sharing the aircraft with No. 14 Squadron. The previous
RNZAF Red Checkers display team was disbanded, and the newly formed group was named the RNZAF Black Falcons. The team is made up of Qualified Flying Instructors of the Central Flying School and No.14 Squadron. The bulk of the team generally come from CFS, with the Team Leader (Falcon 1), normally also holding the post of Officer Commanding Central Flying School.
The new team's first display was scheduled for the 2017
Wings over Wairarapa airshow, although bad weather caused the displays to be cancelled. Instead the first display was held at the RNZAF 80th Anniversary Air Tattoo at the team's home base,
RNZAF Base Ohakea
RNZAF Base Ohakea is an operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Opened in 1939, it is located near Bulls, 25 km north-west of Palmerston North in the Manawatu. It is also a diversion landing point for civilian aircraft. The bas ...
the following week.
References
{{Modern aerobatic teams
Units and formations of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Aerobatic teams