From July 10–13, 2025, the No. 88 Squadron Skills Team competed in the Southern Area Aviation Skills Competition. These regional contests — held for the Southern, Central, and Northern areas — determine who advances to the National finals.
After months of weekly training, the team was ready to give it their all. The days were long, from early mornings to late nights, but their hard work paid off when they proudly claimed victory, ending No. 17 Squadron – City of Christchurch’s 19-year winning streak.
This was a remarkable milestone for the Mighty 88 team, who had been steadily climbing the leaderboard in recent years before finally breaking through.
Having won the regional title, the team advanced to Nationals in Blenheim from October 3–5, where they faced the best from across the country — No. 3 Squadron (Auckland City) and No. 1 Squadron (City of Wellington). They competed in a series of demanding physical and mental challenges, from equipment carries and GSK to navigation exercises, all while maintaining the teamwork and spirit they were praised for at regionals.
No. 88 Squadron finished 2nd overall, with Auckland taking first place and Wellington third — but their excellence didn’t go unnoticed. The team also earned the prestigious National Davy Drill Award for their outstanding drill performance.