WONZ 331 – Simon Rea

The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Guest: Simon “Kermit” Rea

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 6th of August2025

Published: 7th of August 2025

Duration: 1 hour 24 minutes, 57 seconds

Simon Rea grew up in Hawera, New Zealand, as an aviation enthusiast. When he left school, he did a little bit of flying with the Hawera Aero Club, before he joined the RNZAF as a pilot. He trained at Ohakea on the NZAI CT/4B Airtrainer, and then the Aermacchi MB339CB ‘Macchi’.

He found himself streamed for strike role, and was posted to NAS Nowra, Australia, to join No. 2 Squadron RNZAF to do advanced training on the McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawks.

After a couple of years flying Skyhawks there, the Strike Wing was disbanded in December 2001, and Simon took the opportunity to transfer to the Royal Air Force, along with a number of other ex-RNZAF Skyhawk pilots.

Simon trained up to fly the BAe Harrier GR.7, and eventually ended up on No. 3 Squadron RAF. He deployed to Afghanistan with the squadron as part of Operation Herrick.

The next posting came when Simon was selected to join the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic display team, He flew with this world famous team for three seasons through 2008 to 2010, and got to show his skills all around Britain, Europe and the world.

When he left the team, Simon was posted to the Saudi Hawks aerobatic team in Saudi Arabia, and he spent several years with that team, advising and flying the spare aircraft, and also commentating. He eventually returned to the UK and ended his RAF career in London as a liaison between the UK and Saudi air forces.

It was after 22 years in the RAF that the desire to return to New Zealand was fulfilled, and Simon was able to reenlist with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He now flies as an instructor on the Beechcraft Texan II’s with No. 14 Squadron RNZAF, at Ohakea.

Simon ‘Kermit’ Rea with a Saudi Hawk. Kindly supplied by Simon Rea.

Simon Rea and Paul Barlow, during the last Exercise Vanguard in Singapore, September 2001. Photo kindly supplied by Don Simms.

Simon and a Skyhawk. Photo kindly supplied by Don Simms.

L to R: Andy Duncan, Phil Barnes, Steve Alderton, unknown female, Simon Rea and Muz Neilson. Nowra, 2000. Photo kindly supplied by Don Simms.

L to R: Simon Rea, Andy Keith, Daz Smith, Nick Osborne, Kelly Logue, Blair Keen, Jason ‘Easty’ Easthope. Perth 2001. Photo kindly supplied by Don Simms.

No. 2 Squadron officers, 2000. Photo kindly supplied by Don Simms

Upside-down in a Red Arrows Hawk. Kindly supplied by Simon Rea.

Red Arrows, tucked in close. Kindly supplied by Simon Rea.

The four No. 2’s, from the RCAF Snowbirds, the US Navy Blue Angels, the RAF Red Arrows and the USAF Thunderbirds, all together in 2008. Kindly supplied by Simon Rea.

The Saudi Hawks in formation over a desert canyon. Kindly supplied by Simon Rea.