// Just Plane Crazy
Just Plane Crazy - Image 3
The Air Force’s Red Checkers Aerobatics team are involved in a wealth of events over the summer months and in many respects are the public face of the Air Force. SQNLDR Scott McKenzie, Officer Commanding Central Flying School muses on the Checkers’ role and work.
‘What would you like to be when you grow up? A sports star! Do you realise you can be a sports star and fly in the RNZAF. Not that I epitomise this but maybe Checkers 5 used to!’
This was part of a conversation I had with a six-year-old after completing our display at Wigram in February. Getting out and about with the Red Checkers has been the realisation of a boyhood dream I had when I attended air shows with my family. If I was asked that question at age 6 I would have said ‘pilot’, but in those days sport stars weren’t as cool and they didn’t appear in Jockeys ads on the sides of tall buildings with a plethora of girls ogling them.
Just Plane Crazy - Image 1
If I had a dollar for every time I was told ‘I didn’t think we had an Air Force any more’ I would have made a sweet profit, but each time it makes me more determined to get the message out there that we have a great Air Force, with talented people doing a fantastic job for our country.
The Red Checkers gets right in the face of the public with this message. We show the public the RNZAF’s professionalism and teamwork. Whilst the Airtrainer is not as potent a war machine as some of our other assets, this works in our favour as the public see us doing a lot with a little, and we put on an awe inspiring show, building on the great work of previous teams. The addition of a commentary over the loud speaker from the lead during the tail chase draws the crowd into the cockpit to increase the interaction, and setting the routine to music enhances the experience to make it more memorable. We have stiff competition with the Yak 52 Team ‘Yakrobatics’, who put on a great display with limited practise, and they only get better with time, but the crowd can see that our training and precision is second to none. Teamwork, with a drive to continually better ourselves, is what gets us to this level with considerable amounts of extra curricular effort (not unlike our sports teams!).
Just Plane Crazy - Image 2
But it is not just the five Checkers in front of the crowd that get all the kudos. The teamwork that goes on in behind the scenes is enormous. Our support from our AdminO, Commentator, Display Director and engineers is awesome and they receive so many great comments from the crowd. We have collaborated with recruiting this year so there is a stand at almost all events we attend and this is paying big dividends. Displaying at events such as the Great Lake Cycling Challenge, A1GP and the Maadi Cup Secondary Schools Rowing Regatta, has given the RNZAF exposure in front of non-traditional crowds and is getting the message out there that ‘yes we do have an Air Force and it is quite awesome!’
The Red Checkers are out there inspiring the next generation and hopefully one of those budding sports stars in the crowd will be sitting in my spot in a few years time … after a few of you.