Royal New Zealand Air Force pilots ready to spread their wings after graduating at Base Ōhakea

The Royal New Zealand Air Force pilots who graduated at Base Ōhakea on December 11 are (from left) flying officers Shawn O'Hara, Molly Husband, Molly Alcock, Phil Percy and Jade Washer. Photo / Royal New Zealand Air Force

Five pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force have graduated from the 24/1 Pilot Course at Base Ōhakea.

A ceremony was held at Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ōhakea on December 11 to celebrate the graduates.

The five graduate flying officers are Shawn O’Hara, Molly Husband, Molly Alcock, Phil Percy and Jade Washer.

The 24/1 Pilot Course is a nearly two-year course in which the officers must complete 150 hours of training in the T-6C Texan II aircraft and 50 hours in the simulator.

There are 11 T-6C Texan II aircraft, which are purpose-built for military training, at Base Ōhakea.

They are often seen flying low in and around the lower North Island, particularly around Ōhakea and Whanganui.

Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb was the reviewing officer for the graduation.

After the graduation ceremony, five Texan aircraft and Biggin Hill Trust’s 1945 North American P-51D Mustang put on an aerobatic display.

The pilots will now learn to fly either fixed-wing or rotary-wing operations.

O’Hara, Alcock, Percy and Washer will move on to No 42 Squadron for multi-engine training in the MC-12K King Air.

Husband will move to No 3 Squadron to adapt to rotary-wing and fly the A109 helicopters.