Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers looped and rolled across the Tauranga skyline this morning in a special demonstration to mark the 75th anniversary of the air force.

The country's best pilots took to the sky in the five CT4E aircraft to perform about at about midday before travelling to Rotorua for their next aerobatic display at about 6pm.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers flying over Tauranga city this morning.

Bay of Plenty Classic Aircraft Trust chairman David Love says the Red Checkers are a key part in attracting future pilots to the air force.

'These pilots are the best in the country – they are training instructors for the RNZAF.

'They are instrumental in keeping the air force in the minds of New Zealanders –a very high profile way of demonstrating what the air force can do.”

David says despite a slight wind, flying conditions for the Red Checkers are perfect today.

The Red Checkers team was scheduled to perform at the Classics of the Sky Tauranga City Airshow in January, but was grounded after one of the planes was forced to land due to mechanical problems.

The lead plane sustained moderate damage when it made its forced landing in Waiouru en route to Tauranga on Friday, January 27, resulting in the whole fleet being grounded and missing the airshow.

This year the Air Force is celebrating 75 years of service to New Zealand.

An Act of Parliament in 1937 made the Air Force independent of the army and by the end of World War Two, the new service was a large and effective air arm.

The anniversary celebrations culminate this Saturday with the Air Force Airshow at the Ohakea airbase between Sanson and Bulls.