ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force

The tail of Hercules NZ7004
checkers 1, the lead Airtrainer of our aerobatic team
boeing 757 in the new livery
celebrating 75 Years of service to new Zealand
The decal designs were subject to the following design
constraints:
• Use of standard RNZAF insignia,
• Use of RNZAF tri-colours,
• Use of 75th anniversary colour in design (diamond
white and/or Gold), and,
• complied with the RNZAF’s 75th Anniversary ‘brand’.
The cAF’s chosen design concept was put together by F/S
Trent wyatt, an Air engineer at No. 5 Sqn. well known for his
artistry, F/S wyatt’s design incorporates:
• Four contrails made up of the Air Force tri-colours and
gold—which represents 75 years of RNZAF service.
• Four symbolic strike aircraft representing a link to our
past and the four force elements of Maritime, Fixed wing
transport, Rotary wing transport, and Training aircraft.
• The Southern cross, to represent New Zealand and our
flag.
david Sherriff at the Auckland drawing office then applied
the design concept to each aircraft type. david’s expertise
as a former Safety and Surface technician and now as a
Technical drawer was invaluable in translating F/S wyatt’s
design concept to each aircraft.
The team had to take into consideration a number of
constraints. The designs could not utilise primary flight
control surfaces; the decals could not impinge on anti-icing
systems or instrument and sensor components; while we also
needed to avoid areas of oil, soot or dirt accumulation and
areas requiring regular inspection.
decal quality is extremely important and installed on
RNZAF aircraft they have to withstand the full range of
environmental factors:
• Altitudes up to and including 42,000 feet.
• Speeds up to and including Mach 0.86.
• Temperatures ranging from -56° to +55°c.
• Good resistance to water, Mil-l-7808 oil, and Jet A and
AVGAS fuels.
The preferred commercial provider was Admark Visual
Imaging ltd, a New Zealand firm which is an authorised
3M product applicator and is recognised internationally as
specialists in the printing and application of aircraft graphics
and signage. Admark provides decal products to Air New
Zealand and are original equipment Manufacturers to boeing.
The installation was undertaken by Admark technicians
under the supervision and assistance of No. 40 Sqn
Maintenance Flight (for the b757 and c-130) and Pilot
Training Squadron Maintenance Flight (for the Airtrainer).
The directorate of continued Airworthiness Management
in both Auckland and ohakea provided important specialist
engineering advice and the required technical approvals to
install the decals on the aircraft.
The newly-liveried b757 was quickly observed in
christchurch and in the Antarctic, while the lead Red checker
was soon turning heads around the South Island. The
Anniversary aircraft livery project is a simple but eye-catching
and cost effective means of communicating the RNZAF’s 75th
Anniversary year to the public, both in NZ and internationally.
Air Force news 11