Another N.Z. Pilot In Red Arrows

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31926, 1 March 1969, Page 21

Another N.Z. Pilot In Red Arrows

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) LONDON, February 27. Another New Zealander has joined the crack aerobatic team of the Royal Air Force, the Red Arrows.

He is Flight Lieutenant Euan Perreaux, aged 30, from Palmerston North, who joined the R.A.F. and trained at Cranwell from 1957 to 1959. From 1960-62 he served with No. 8 Squadron in Aden, flying Hunters. Since 1967 he has been a qualified flying instructor on jet Provost trainers. He is married with three-year-old twin girls. Christchurch Pilot Flight Lieutenant Perreaux joins another New Zealander in the Red Arrows team of nine. He is Flight Lieutenant lan Dick, aged 26, from Gwynfa Avenue, Cashmere, Christchurch, who joined the team in 1967. He went to Christ’s College and Cranwell. For the last three years the Red Arrows have been led

by an Aucklander, Squadron Leader R. Hanna. He joined the R.A.F. in 1949. Squadron Leader Hanna has now been transferred to R.A.F. Training Command at Brampton, where he is working in the flight safety section. 98 Displays He led the team 256 times: and last year alone carried out 98 displays. The Red Arrows have just been given a new lease of life and will continue as the premier aerobatic display team of the R.A.F. for another six years. Despite the introduction of Phantoms and “jump jet” Harriers this year, the R.A.F. will still rely on the nine scarlet Gnat jet trainers for their 450 m.p.h. displays. The Red Arrows were

formed in 1965 and have established themselves as the finest aerobatic team in Europe. The New Zealanders are the only aviators in the team who are from the Commonwealth. The Red Arrows were flown at every major air show in Europe. A new film featuring the Red Arrows was chosen as the supporting picture at this weeks’Royal Command Film Performance.