Aircraft of the Year
Congratulations to our winners!
We are very excited to reveal that the Bell UH-1H Iroquois and the Bristol B.170 Freighter have been declared joint winners in the Aircraft of the Year competition after they were caught in a dead heat when polls closed.
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New exhibiton: Insights
Insights
Caldwell Gallery
From delicate pastel and crayon sketches to the brutality of a crash-damaged German bomber engine, Insights offers a tantalising peek at the breadth and depth of our collection. Like many museums, space constraints mean that only a fraction of our one million or so objects can ever be on display. It is a collection containing stories more than 100 years in the making and a source of endless fascination for the team of people who work to catalogue, conserve and care for it.
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From delicate pastel and crayon sketches to the brutality of a crash-damaged German bomber engine, Insights offers a tantalising peek at the breadth and depth of our collection. Like many museums, space constraints mean that only a fraction of our one million or so objects can ever be on display. It is a collection containing stories more than 100 years in the making and a source of endless fascination for the team of people who work to catalogue, conserve and care for it.
Featured Exhibition
P-3 Orion
Located upstairs in our Cochrane Gallery, our Orion exhibition traces the origins and service history of the RNZAF’s fleet of maritime aircraft which performed exceptional service for almost 60 years.
The exhibition includes a scale model of the aircraft dating back to 1968, and a 13-minute documentary featuring interviews with pilots and crew, and a yachtie rescued by the aircraft back in 1994.
P-3 Orion: The story of an extraordinary aircraft is not to be missed!
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The exhibition includes a scale model of the aircraft dating back to 1968, and a 13-minute documentary featuring interviews with pilots and crew, and a yachtie rescued by the aircraft back in 1994.
P-3 Orion: The story of an extraordinary aircraft is not to be missed!
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
MYSTERY COCKPIT: Now this is a tricky one - pay close attention!
These instruments belong to a magnificent aircraft in our collection, and it is your job to work out which it is.
If you think you know the answer put it in the comments below or email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz.
Correct answers will go into the draw to win a stylish and sought-after Air Force Museum of New Zealand coffee mug*.
Our adjudicator has asked for the aircraft manufacturer's name and model.
Level of difficulty: 9.6
*If you can't identify the cockpit just go to airforcemuseum.co.nz/shop/afm-collection-mug/ and buy your own mug. That way you're guaranteed success and you suppor#mysterycockpit##RNZAFy#rnzafpastandpresentfpastandpresent ... See MoreSee Less
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The Cessna O-2A Skymaster is a military adaptation of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster, designed for forward air control (FAC) missions. It features a distinctive push-pull engine configuration, with one engine mounted at the front and another at the rear of the fuselage, providing centerline thrust and enhanced maneuverability.  During the Vietnam War, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) did not deploy its own combat aircraft to South Vietnam. Instead, between December 1968 and February 1972, 14 RNZAF pilots were seconded to the United States Air Force (USAF) as forward air controllers. In this role, they piloted the O-2A Skymaster, conducting visual reconnaissance, marking targets, and coordinating airstrikes. 
Everyone seems to have got it. Must admit I was scratching my head a bit as it wasn't any of the other twins in the museum.....and then I saw "Front Eng" and "Rear Eng" and it was an oh yeah that one moment. 🤔🙄😁
Cessna 337 Super Skymaster was, I believe, Cessna's designation.
Man this was too easy it's the Cessna O-2A-2E Skymaster (military variant of the Cessna 337)
Cessna 337/O-2
Cessna 0-2A-2E Skymaster
Cessna 0-2A-2E Skymaster
O-2. Front engine, rear engine.
Cessna O-2A Skymaster
Cessna O-2A Skymaster.
Cessna O-2
Cessna 337
Cessna Skymaster
Cessna O-2A Skymaster
O2a 2e sky master
337/ O-2
Cessna Skymaster
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OH RILEY! The historic racing Rileys have proved so popular we've extended their stay all the way through to next Sunday, 1 December.
They're the Rileys that took first and third places respectively in the first running of the New Zealand Championship Road Race at Wigram Airfield back in 1949.
One is a Riley Brooklands (first place!), and the other is a Ransley Riley Special (third) - and both are gorgeous.
We've also got the Lady Wigram Trophy on display (and if you look closely you'll see some interesting names engraved on it, including Lance Stroll) so come on down to our place to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the b#christchurchnza#canterburycarclubz#Rileye#rileybrooklandsl#rileyracingo#wigramskiesy#hornby#wigramskies #hornby ... See MoreSee Less
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History in the making
DEVON SENT: Come on down and take a bow Noel Rogers, winner of our mystery cockpit competition.
Yes Noel, it was indeed the cockpit instruments from our de Havilland Devon NZ1803. If you email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz we will get your brand new and very flash Air Force Museum of New Zealand aircraft recognition mug in the post.
We had a lot of correct entries and drew Noel's name from a hat. Our adjudicator (yet again) failed to spot a telltale giveaway in the photo detail, and he is in the doghouse.
NZ1803 arrived at Wigram in March 1952, and was one of 30 Devons acquired by the RNZAF.
The Devon served with the Air Navigation School (which became the Navigation, Air Electrionics and Telecommunications Training Squadron) until its retirement in 1980.
The RNZAF operated Devons between 1952 and 19#dehavillandll#adfserialsri#rnzafpastandpresentesent ... See MoreSee Less
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Noel Rogers looks like all that effort as a spotter and never getting the girls whilst serving in the Air Force has paid off my friend
As a cadet in no 12 squadron of the ATC we had a base visit to Wigram. At the end of that visit some were selected for a flight in one of these and got a trip out over Banks Peninsular. Wigram was a big loss to the south island. I think they need to consider a central South Island location for our Airforce.
I think one of these sat at Nelson Airport for years on its own. 20+ years ago
A cool aircraft.
Nice aircraft
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KIWIS CAN FLY! The latest in our series of Short Talks is all set for Monday 9 December at 10am.
Our very own Squadron Leader Kate Bint talks about some of the highlights of RNZAF flying training throughout the years, plus a personal take on the current models and systems in use. Kate was a flying Instructor with the Royal Air Force before joining the RNZAF in 2006. She spent 13 years with the RNZAF’s Flying Training Wing as a B200 King Air instructor before being posted to the Air Force Museum’s Executive Officer role in 2020.
The talk is in our Theatre and it will be FREE!
#rnzaf #wigramskies #canterburyplanespotters #aircadetsnz ... See MoreSee Less
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We had two female chopper pilots bloody brilliant
Is she one of the regular commentators at Warbirds Over Wanaka? Many will know her voice if not her name if she is.
youtu.be/43-M6avTJ6U?si=Z2rGglhp7-m1UWrm
Literally the most incompetent organization you will ever work with.
lets hope she doesn't suffer the same fate as the last pommie import. Running a hydrographic ship aground on a reef.
can't sink any ships at the museum
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