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!
A fun way to explore the Museum together
Museum Hunts
We offer a range of fun Museum Hunts suitable for 4 – 12-year-olds, with changing themes and challenges every school holiday. Each hunt also enters you in the draw for an awesome prize!
Check out our latest Morse Code Hunts today.
Learn More
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
The competition was intense this week as timber teams from around the South Island gathered for a catch up with Mitre 10 at our place – combined with a friendly Mosquito flying competition.
After all, who better to try out our newly-revamped wooden wonder Mosquito Mission simulator than a group of timber suppliers?
And where else can you spend your break times sitting in a genuine de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito cockpit flying a mission in the Norwegian fjords? Or trying out your Loadmaster skills flying a Lockheed C-130H Hercules on a DropZone mission through the Otira Valley?
We’ve got meeting rooms large and small, a 98-seat lecture theatre, a massive free carpark and we’re also handy to the airport and the motorways.
So, to borrow a phrase from Australia, where the Herc are ya?
If you’d like to book your next meeting with us (and fly a Mosquito!), go to airforcemuseum.co.nz/venue-hire/
Your break times will never be as good,
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My visit will have to wait until your summer of 2026 unfortunately, saving the pennies/cents to come back over from the UK
URGENT CLARIFICATION: We wanted to step in quickly to clear up any confusion between our BAC Strikemaster and the pop icon James Blunt.
This is a fast developing situation so bear with us – this issue takes a little bit of explanation.
Our BAC Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6373 is commonly known as a Blunty, owing to its distinctive short and rounded nose.
James Blunt, the singer behind a string of hits in the 2000s including ‘You’re beautiful’ has vowed to change his name to Blunty McBluntface if this month’s reissue of his Back to Bedlam album reaches number one in the UK charts.
The name Blunty McBluntface was chosen by his fan base.
Naturally, we are concerned about possible widespread confusion among the general public about the differences between our Blunty and the possible new Blunty.
To head this problem off, we have prepared some quick and easy ways to tell them apart at a glance:
1: The Strikemaster’s Rolls-Royce/Bristol Viper 535 makes a distinctive high-pitched shrieking sound at takeoff, whereas Blunty McBluntface’s voice has been described as more of a high-pitched but controlled emotional falsetto which is constant throughout his songs.
2: The Strikemaster was armed with two 7.622 mm machine guns and could carry a variety of ordnance. James Blunt, although a former soldier, is thought to be mostly unarmed.
3: The Strikemaster has a standard RNZAF camouflage paint scheme, Blunty McBluntface wears a variety of guises, mostly beige.
This has been a public service announcement on behalf of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Once again, you’re welcome!
#jamesblunt #bluntymcbluntface #bacstrikemaster #timespanner #rnzafpastandpresent ... See MoreSee Less
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Because the difference is so subtle, perhaps you could include a couple of sound bites to help us distinguish the difference between the shrieking sound of a Strikemaster at takeoff, and the sound of James Blunt’s singing voice in full flight?
Oh, can you get Blunty Mcbluntface to hold a concert in front of the blunty?
I'm sorry but this does not convince me. Blunty and Blunty McBluntface have never been seen in the same room together and they have both spent time with three wise men in a semi by the sea. Further investigation is needed.
I love how stubby the Strikemaster is
Thank you clearing this up. I haven't been able to sleep at night.
Thanks for that. It could be difficult to tell which is which.
The green and brown one definitely sounds better,
Saw one take off in Wellington 2 weeks ago. Was neat as we don't get military aircraft in Northland much and my pop was a Flight Instructor in the air force.
Thank you for this important act of public information and just to clarify, the one with the guitar is…?
Was hoping for another post on the Mazda 626, to be blunt 😁
I know which concert/gig I'd prefer to attend to see one of these Blunties! I do recall being at an airshow, sorry concert, one time, and the James Blunty which flew in, taxied over to where I was standing at the fence on my own, and while still screaming the song "R.R Viper While Taxiing", he proceeded to come right up to me.
James Blunt has been shot at more times.
Even more confusing when my nickname at school was 'Blunty' and you continually get asked if James Blunt is a relation. Especially when you're 12 year old nephew is called James Blunt....
Unarmed? Have you ever been hit over the head with a guitar? You surely haven't, cause if you had there is no way you'd be suggesting that Blunty McBluntFace is unarmed!
Well James Blunt , sounds like a challenge, or just some fantastic support after your day in Coventry 😂
You have to remember that Captain Blount went into action with his guitar strapped to the outside of the tank, causing the enemy to fall back..... he is still armed with that guitar. The name changes are to avoid possible prosecution under the code of the Geneva convention from when he used said guitar in a war zone.
One is sometimes described as “constant power, variable noise” while the other just makes constant noise.
Thought to be mostly unarmed sounds like 1 we're unsure 2 famous last words!
Thank you for the information. Perhaps the photographs could be more clearly labelled to aid identification and avoid confusion.
I'm not sure which one is better looking 🤔
I feel it Mr Blunt reads this he will come up with a comeback you will never escape from.
Sorry, I'm still struggling to tell them apart. Please provide further clarification.
Whoever is doing your socials needs a raise (or at least a good hearty pat on the back) 👌
Funny & clever - hope Blunty McBluntface sees this, he’ll have something brilliant & cutting to say no doubt.
I am so glad you cleared that up. Thank you.
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ATTENTION CANTERBURY! Form up and march on in to our place for a guided walk to discover historic Wigram as part of Heritage Week.
The walks start at 10am on Thursday 17 October, Saturday 19 October and Sunday 20 October.
Our guides will talk you on a 90-minute walk taking in the highlights of our historic air base, which was once home to thousands of RNZAF personnel. It is family-friendly, pram-friendly, accessible and a must do if you want to learn more about our proud aviation history.
Tours assemble ready for a 10am start in our museum atrium - just $5.
Quick march!
#HeritageWeek #christchurchnz ... See MoreSee Less
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What incredible pictures! Will this guided walk be offered outside of these dates?
Do you have wheelchairs for people to use by any chance? My kids would love this but it's to long for me to be standing 😞
I completed the tour yesterday with Richard, I was like a kid in a candy shop.. Certainly enjoyed my time, to Richard, to the museum staff and to all personnel past and present, thank you all for your service....
Enjoyed my time at Wigram
Richard Goldsmith - where Grandad did his training!
Denise Beverley Chappell wouldn't Dad have loved this
I really wish they'd never closed Wigram. My favourite base, despite being in my least favourite city!
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YOU CAN'T PARK THERE MATE - WORKSHOP EDITION! While this is definitely a clear case for a 'you can't park there mate' accusation, we hope you can take a moment to reflect and appreciate what a glorious couple of vehicles are contained in this picture. The Land Rover and the Land Cruiser were caught together for this special moment in No. 5 hangar at RNZAF Base Wigram in 1989. It is believed the guilty looking Land Cruiser may have nudged the Land Rover off its jacks in a fit of jealousy about the British ambulance's unrivalled record for reliability an#landroverl#youcantparktherematev#toyotalandcruiserremate #toyotalandcruiser ... See MoreSee Less
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Raz Malkin would like everyone to know he was not at Base Wigram in 1989 (nor was he asleep in the ambulance), but was far away in Greymouth. He says this should not be misinterpreted as an alibi, but is intended to dispel any alternative facts about his involvement.
Looks like the camouflaged Toyota that I used to check out from MT in the late 70's. A time before camo uniforms in RNZAF. That or a yellow Trekker should be at theMuseum.
Toyota must be out of oil because there are no leaks.
Landcruiser for the win!
The satire wasn't lost on me 🤭
I wanna drive that bus in the background
Was Raz Malkin driving at the time?? 🤣🤣😎
Hang on this is a Landrover you are talking about 😂
Dam. More paper work. ,
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