The Ohakea-based Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) aerobatics display team, the Black Falcons, are returning to Southland this weekend with a fly-over at 1pm on Saturday (2 Mar) at the Southland A&P Show.

The five T-6C Texan II aircraft were last seen in Southland skies on 9th February for the Bert Munro Challenge.

This trip will see them travel across the lower North Island and South Island. They will also been seen in Gore (12.48pm) and Winton (12.56pm).

Team member Squadron Leader Michael Williams said the pilots were looking forward to returning to the South Island.

“It’s a real pleasure to bring our displays or a flypast to people at any time, but on this trip we’ll be covering quite a bit of the South Island, so lots of people will get the chance to see us,” he said.

 “Our T-6C Texan II aircraft is the one on which all RNZAF pilots learn to fly, so we also hope seeing us this weekend will inspire some of the young people who see us. It could be them up there one day.”

Black Falcons flight schedule

(Subject to weather conditions and other operational considerations)

Saturday 2 March:

After departing RNZAF Base Ohakea the Black Falcons will fly South via the following route, all times approximate:

Levin (Oxford St) – 08:03

Ōtaki Beach – 08:06

Paraparaumu (Amohia St) – 08:09

Paekākāriki - 08:10

Pukerua Bay – 08:11

Paremata - 08:12

Porirua - 08:12

Tawa – 08:13 (subject to air traffic at Wellington Airport)  

Wellington (Queens Wharf) – 08:15 (subject to air traffic at Wellington Airport) 

Wellington Airport - 08:16 (subject to air traffic at Wellington Airport)

Blenheim (CBD) – 08:27

Seddon - 08:30

Ward – 08:33 

Wharanui – 08:35

Clarence - 08:39

Kaikōura (Esplanade) – 08:45

Oaro – 08:48

Hundalee – 08:50

Ferniehurst - 08:51

Cheviot – 08:54

Waipara – 09:02

Amberley – 09:04

Leithfield – 09:04

Sefton - 09:06

Rangiora – 09:07

Southbrook – 09:07

Kaiapoi (Kaiapoi High School) – 09:09

Spencer Park – 09:10

Waimairi Beach – 09:11

Christchurch Botanic Gardens – 09:12

Rakaia – 11:40

Ashburton Domain – 11:44

Hinds - 11:47

Geraldine – 11:51

Winchester – 11:53

Temuka Domain – 11:54

Pleasant Point – 11:56

Waimate - 12:04

Pikes Point – 12:06

Pukeuri – 12:09

Oamaru - 12:10

Maheno – 12:12

Herbert - 12:14

Hampden – 12:15

Palmerston - 12:18

Waikouaiti – 12:20

Puketeraki - 12:21

Seacliff - 12:22

Warrington – 12:23

Waitati - 12:23

Port Chalmers – 12:25

Ravensbourne - 12:26

Dunedin (Octagon) – 12:26

Waldronville - 12:28

Brighton – 12:29

Taieri - 12:31

Milton – 12:34

Lovells Flat – 12:36

Balclutha - 12:38

Clinton – 12:42

Arthurton – 12:45

McNab - 12:47

Gore – 12:48

Waimumu – 12:49

Waitane - 12:51

Winton – 12:56

Wallacetown – 12:59

• Southland A&P Show, Donovan Park, Invercargill 1pm