New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release
5 October 2005

RNZAF Takes Part in Taieri Celebrations

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will be in Otago this weekend (7-9 October) for the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of flying training at Taieri.

Five CT-4 Airtrainers and two Beech King Airs from the Air Force’s Flying Training Wing will be in Taieri for the reunion.

Lead by Squadron Leader Ian MacPherson, the aircraft will complete two formation flypasts over the course of the weekend.

Squadron Leader MacPherson’s father who trained at Taieri in 1950 will also take part in the celebrations. The 73 year old hopes to fly with his son during Saturday’s formation flypast.

A solo aircraft, piloted by Squadron Leader Wal Thompson (originally from Otago) will perform an aerobatics display in both Taieri and Dunedin on Saturday.

The timing of events for RNZAF aircraft is as follows:

Saturday
1200 - 1210 formation flypast 5 x Airtrainers and 2 x Kingair
1205 Solo display over downtown Harbour area - Squadron Leader Thompson
1215 Formation flypast over Dunedin airport
1220 Formation flypast over Taieri
1400 - 1500 Recruiting Flights - Airtrainers
1430 Solo display overhead Taieri - Squadron Leader Thompson

Sunday
0955 Formation flypast Crawford Street

ENDS

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