A group of about 20 year 12 and 13 pupils and some of their siblings gathered at the Mainland Air hangar on Saturday along with nine trainees from Ohakea, who have come to Dunedin for formation training.
The nine trainee pilots with him had already stopped off in Christchurch, and in Dunedin they were getting experience flying in a colder climate - but their flights might be limited by the wind, he said.
"We basically come to an away airfield in order to extend the students."
Formation flying presented pilots with unique challenges, and was not easy, he said.
"[You have to be] much more deliberate and smooth."
He was pleased to see the turnout of pupils who had come to speak to the pilots and see the display.
"It's always cool to speak to people who are perhaps aspiring to get into the air force."
Air Training Corps cadets Mitchell Joint (16), who went to John McGlashan College, and Ethan James (17), who attended King's High School, both said they hoped to become air force pilots.
Mitchell said he had dreamed of becoming a pilot since he was 6 or 7 years old, and was now gaining some experience as a cadet warrant officer, and Ethan said he had already done a "wee bit of flying".
Mitchell said with minimum requirements for maths and science, and recruiters also looking for people with well-rounded personalities and life experience, getting into the air force was not easy - but they were preparing for the challenge.
"Exercise Wise Owl" at Dunedin Airport will run until October 4.
