Skyhawk fly-past to mark anniversary

Press, 21 February 1987, Page 12

Skyhawk fly-past to mark anniversary

A specially painted anniversary Skyhawk will fly over the South Island next week but the Royal New Zealand Air Force says, “Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.” - The fly-past, at 300 m, is being' made on Wednesday, February 25, to mark the Air Force’s fiftieth anniversary as a separate armed force.

The gold-painted Skyhawk with red, white and blue stripes would fly at 600km/h, about half its maximum speed, said the R.N.Z.A.F. public relations officer, Flying Officer Peter Northcote.

The aircraft’s pilot, Flight Lieutenant Glenn Todd, said he would need his skills for accurate navigation and timings. These were critical when it took only four minutes to travel from Greymouth to Hokitika.

The fighter plane was expected to leave Ohakea at 10.30 a.m. and be over Nelson at 10.51 a.m. It would then fly over Motueka at 10.55, Westport at 11.10, Greymouth at 11.19, Hokitika at 11.23, Reefton at 11.34, Hanmer Springs at 41.46, Rangiora at 11.56, Kaiapoi at 11.57 a.m., and Wigram at mid-

day. , It would leave Wigram at 3.14 p.m. and arrive over Invercargill at 3.50 p.m. before beginning the return flight It was expected to be over Timaru at 4.45, Geraldine at 4.49, Ashburton, at 4.53, and Wigram at 5.01 p.m. The Skyhawk was one of 10 bought from Australia in 1984.

Flying Officer Northcote said he hoped the anniversary . Skyhawk would pay another visit before thq ceremonial review of the R.N.Z.A.F. and the opening of its museum at Wigram on April 1.