The group, who visit Cowra each year, arrived in town earlier this week and have been undertaking formation flying exercises across the district.

Pilot Sean Trestrail said the group had been dramatically affected by the pandemic and he was thrilled to return to the region.

"We've been limited with the COVID lockdowns, particularly closer to Sydney areas... only allowed to do a maintenance test flight once every couple of weeks," he said.

"Some of those guys who were in the really hard lockdown areas, they haven't been able to fly.

"We're ever mindful of that which is why when we start flying here again, because we haven't done an awful lot of flying, we're only just slowing starting to work our way up."

The week commenced with basic formation flying before the pilots moved into more advanced, tactical exercises.

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"The whole concept is based on the very disciplined formation flying to a set set of procedures, which is a little bit more advanced than the normal formation flying that's done out there in general aviation," Mr Trestrail said.

"Right towards the end of the week, we have a fictional bunch of bad guys who are always giving us trouble, which is why we have to come out to Cowra every year because we have to suppress them.

"Each morning, the situation deteriorates and we have a little bit of an intelligence brief and then eventually, on the last day, it's time to act so we then get all of the aeroplanes airborne.

"The guys are given limited time to plan... they have to manage their way out to the target area, find the target, which typically is a farmer's paddock. We get a lot of support from the farmers that allow us to do this sort of stuff.

"Then we attack the target, we come back and of course, we always win the war each year, or we think we do."

Mr Trestrail said the group has always enjoyed visiting Cowra.

"We've been coming here for six years and the benefit of it is, one, it's a nice place but the second thing is everyone is so supportive of us," he said.

"The support we get from council to let us come out here on the airfield and operate like we do with literally no restrictions, it's very easy to do and the support we get out of Fly Oz is just unbelievable.

"Then of course the support we get from the locals, with Harry [Howard] and the Rotary and the Inner Wheel.

"The friendships we've developed in town... it's a great spot and the airspace is good... it's great to be back."

Along with their visit, the Red Radials and Cowra Rotary are giving one lucky resident the chance to win a 15 minute joy flight over Cowra in one of their planes with a silent auction.

The flight will be on Friday, October 29 or Saturday, October 30 and last bids will be taken on Thursday, October 28 at 5pm with the winner will be announced later that evening.

Details on how to bid are on the Cowra Rotary facebook page and all funds are being donated by Cowra Rotary to the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre.

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