The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) aerobatic team Black Falcons will take to the skies above Dunedin in a flight performance this morning.
Dunedin is the first stop on a three-part tour of the south, which begins at St Kilda beach about 10:30am, then heads north to Christchurch tonight and finishes in Kaikōura tomorrow.
There are eight team members in the RNZAF Black Falcons — six pilots, a team manager and a team support officer.
RNZAF squadron leader and FALCON 4 Anthony Rose said those watching the skies would be able to catch one of his favourite manoeuvres in the air — the "opposition pass".
"FALCON 5 and myself come around and cross each other quite close together — it kind of looks like we’re playing chicken," he said.
"My mum and my wife don’t like that manoeuvre and refuse to watch when I’m doing it."
Mr Rose joined the RNZAF in 2009 and graduated in 2011, where he flew all around the world, including Norway and the Antarctic, and took part in Antarctic missions as part of humanitarian relief.
He is flight commander of the Central Flying School and joined the RNZAF Black Falcons last season, where he was the number two position.
This year, the Falcons’ flight routine was created by leader FALCON 1 Stuart Anderson, who Mr Rose described as "a very experienced aviator".
"This year’s routine is a bit different to last year’s and I think it’s really great. Stu’s done really well to make sure there’s always something happening for the crowd to see."
Onlookers would see an array of different manoeuvres, such as rolls, spins, loops and "crowd favourite", the heart, he said.
The squad would be flying T-6C Texan IIs at speeds of about 300 knots, at heights between 100ft and 3000ft.
Mr Rose said he would be in the "focus zone" while performing in the air above Dunedin today, hoping to put on the best show he could for those staring skyward.
