Jets salute golden anniversary

Press, 2 April 1987, Page 1

Jets salute golden anniversary

By

NIGEL MALTHUS

Arrayed behind them were 12 aircraft, representative of virtually every working machine in today’s Air Force. Only the Boeing 727 troop carrier, too big to land at Wigram, was missing. History was served by a flying display of the three planes of the Historic Wing — a Harvard, a Tiger Moth, and the world’s only surviving Avro 626. , They were followed by

a full aerobatic routine by the five Airtrainers of the Red Checkers, led by Squadron Leader Roger Read. The event was the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the R.N.Z.A.F. as a separate service, on April 1, 1937. Addressing the parade, Sir Paul congratulated the Air Force on its high standards. “Today’s Air Force reflects the fine traditions

Nine Skyhawks and nine Strikemasters thundering low overhead in close formation provided a stirring salute as the Royal New Zealand Air Force celebrated its golden anniversary at Wigram yesterday. Five hundred airmen and airwomen had assembled in full ceremonial parade before the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, Sir Paul Reeves.

and standards set during the last 50 years by the men and women who served in the R.N.Z.A.F., many of■ whom have come to Wigram today to mark this occasion. It was their valour, their skill, and their tenacity which helped form the service as we now know it,” he said. Sir Paul also passed on a message of congratulation and best wishes from the Queen and Prince Philip.

The parade was followed in the afternoon by the opening of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, a 33 million complex containing more than a dozen aircraft, much paraphernalia and the Air Force archives. The Chief of Air Staff, Air i Vice-Marshall Patrick Neville, paid tribute to the principal sponsors of the project, each of whom was presented with a ceremonial

sword. “Without their significant commitments of cash or kind we would be opening either a far less ambitious museum, unworthy of its subject, or possibly this one but with a heavily red-inked ledger,” he said. There will be two • more events to mark the R.NXA.F.annlversary — air shows at the Ohakea airbase on April 4 arid 5, and at Whenuapai on April 11 and 12.