RNZAF Red Checkers grounded for 2010 season...

[Stratofreighter]

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Air Trainer Incident at Ohakea

Monday, 1 March 2010, 3:09 pm

Press Release: New Zealand Defence Force

Air Trainer Incident at Ohakea

During training this morning two aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers display team touched causing minor damage to one aircraft. The damaged aircraft subsequently landed safely at around 0930 hrs this morning.

“The Red Checkers fly in close proximity to each other and this morning two of them touched. There are always risks involved in military aviation and we mitigate those risks as best we are able. How this incident happened is now being investigated as a matter of course and the prudent decision is not to fly the team again this season.

[flying_kiwi]

Seeing as the airshow season Down-Under is almost at an end, its no real surprise.
It hasn't been a good season for the Checkers, what with the loss of one of their own plus this incident.

Yorden