Eight decades of RNZAF celebrated

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee was at Ohakea Airbase for the Royal New Zealand Air Force 80th anniversary Air Tattoo yesterday.

"It's a great show and like everyone here I'm very impressed by the skill shown by our Air Force personnel and that of our overseas visitors," Mr Brownlee said.

International militaries from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Japan and New Caledonia brought their wide array of aircraft to entertain the crowd with some spectacular air and ground displays on Saturday and Sunday.

The tattoo programme had to be altered slightly due to cloud yesterday but visitors still got to see the full gamut of air displays.

Minister Brownlee said he particularly enjoyed watching the Australian Air Force's F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Attack Jet air display and the RNZAF's own Black Falcon and Orion displays.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force's static displays of F-15SG and C-130H aircraft attracted a lot of interest from the crowds at the weekend.

Crowds were also treated to performances from the RNZAF Band and haka from RNZAF personnel.