Red Checkers

The Red Checkers are the aerobatic/precision flying Team of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The pilots are senior flying instructors at the RNZAF Central Flying School situated atRNZAF Base Ohakea.

The Checkers fly the Pacific Aerospace CT-4E Airtrainer. Previous aircraft used were the CT4B and North American Harvard (T-6). Until the year 2000 the Checkers were based at Wigram. Aircraft used by the team traditionally had a nose painted in red and white checkered pattern, but this has now been reduced to a small checkered stripe. The team is best known for its mirror flying displays. It is the only RNZAF team to have a sustained history, the "Jetabatic" de Havilland Vampire team and "Kiwi Red" A-4 Skyhawk team lasted only a few years.