What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
A new exhibition, called Victory, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day which have been sourced from photographs, letters, postcards and personal histories in our collection.
Victory includes insights into how Kiwis celebrated, and how they felt.
Many found it difficult to rejoice after so much loss and suffering.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about the end of World War Two with us. The exhibition is on in our upstairs balcony in the atrium.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
We are delighted to let you know that our latest exhibition, the Mighty Hercules, is now open. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
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#Extraordinaryaircraft
Help us build a home for our #extraordinaryaircraft
Our Lockheed C-130H (NZ) Hercules and P-3K2 Orion have had long-term preservation work completed so they can be safely stored while we work on plans for a new permanent exhibition space large enough to house them.
Measuring 29.8m from nose to tail, with a wingspan of 40.5m and a tail soaring to just under 11m high, the Hercules is too large for our current exhibition halls. The Orion is almost as tall and even longer – stretching to 36m thanks to its submarine-detecting tail boom.
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Update
Overseas visitor charge
A $15 entry charge was introduced for all international visitors to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand from 31 March 2025. Tickets available online or from our Welcome Desk on arrival.
We were sorry to have to charge after being free for so many years, but the charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $16 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
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Our Aircraft
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CHALKY’S FAMILY: In August 1943 Flight Sergeant Chalky White’s Spitfire was shot down over occupied France.
He was taken prisoner and left with one soldier guarding him. Big mistake!
Chalky lit a smoke and pushed his cigarettes across to the middle of the table where the guard could reach them.
He’d noticed that the guard had nicotine-stained fingers. When the guard reached over, Chalky punched him out, made off, and, after six weeks on the run and many adventures, made it across the Pyrenees to Spain, and then back to England.
Chalky’s daughter Mere Pohatu was in town and took time to drop in on the museum to do a bit of Spitfire viewing with her daughter Sarah, granddaughter Haromi Pohatu-Keelan and son-in-law Kemara Keelan.
She also caught up with Chris Checketts, our volunteer guide, whose dad Johnny flew with Chalky.
Johnny and Chalky had a lot in common. Johnny was Commanding Officer of No. 485 Squadron and Chalky was a pilot and fellow Kiwi.
They were they were both shot down over France within a month of each other and managed to make it home, with books written about both their escapes. They were both also from Southland, where they are made of strong stuff!
Mere has fond memories of her dad and his stories from his Spitfire days.
“Dad was spontaneous – sometimes a bit combustible – he thought differently about the world,’’ Mere says.
“He could be gruff but he had a big heart and had a lot of compassion. When we were kids we thought some of the stories of his escape were impossible – but it turned out they were all true.’’
“His best advice was that it pays to smoke – if he didn’t have those smokes on him, he wouldn’t have escaped.’’
Chalky gave up flying after the war – although Mere said he did a lot of ‘land flying’ in the car – while Johnny kept flying and had his own top-dressing business.
Chalky and Johnny always kept in touch.
“We all had to go out and watch as ‘Checketts’ flew over the paddocks,’’ Mere says.
The Spitfire families – the descendants of all the 485 Squadron pilots - keep up the tradition to this day.
And Mere is still in contact with the descendants of the French families who helped Chalky escape, they’re bonds that will endure.
Leslie Samuel McQueen White – Southland farmer, Spitfire pilot and escaper extraordinaire - died in 1988. ... See MoreSee Less
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MiD Citation awarded on the 08th June 1944 for distinguished service and devotion to duty while flying Spitfires with 485 (NZ) Squadron. DFC Citation awarded on the on 29th December 1944. 'Fl/Lt. White has taken part in numerous attacks on enemy transport and ground targets and has destroyed or damaged at least 50 mechanical vehicles and three trains. Fl/Lt. White has also destroyed one enemy aircraft and damaged another. His keenness and flying ability have been an inspiration to the other pilots in the squadron'.
What a great story. ❤️
A great story. Thanks for sharing.
James Landers
Voting is now under way in this year’s most important election – the Air Force Museum of New Zealand’s annual Aircraft of the Year poll!
Yes, aircraft fans, it is time for you to decide whether the Avro Anson finally gets the love it deserves.
Or will you give your vote to mighty C-130H Hercules, turning your back on the Anson and the ‘cool kids’ in the collection such as the Skyhawk, Spitfire and Mustang?
In 2023 the top spot went to the P-3 Orion, and last year the mighty Bristol Freighter tied for top honours with the Bell UH-1H Iroquois.
CLICK TO VOTE: airforcemuseum.co.nz/events/aircraft-of-the-year-2025/
Voting closes on November 16.
The winning aircraft gets the honour of being cover queen on our 2026 calendar, with the next 11 aircraft in the vote getting a month each to star.
#aircraftoftheyear #rnzaf ... See MoreSee Less
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It can only be the P3K2!
If the UH-1H Iroquois doesn't win, the vote has been rigged 😂😅🤣
It would be the retired Herc but it is hidden from public view for a couple of years! 🤯
The Spitfire gets my vote. I do like the World War ll displays
Obviously the Corsair - why is this even going to a vote?
Feels like an easy choice this year, with no Venom for the loyalty factor, Herc yeah.... I feel like a couple of protests might be on the cards though, with one wingless contender and one practically naked 🤭 hardly fair 🧐
Iroquois UH-1H
Iroquois gets my vote, and when it's unveiled as the winner it has to have "Fortunate Son" playing In the background 😉
Kelly Elizabeth Hapeta
Dennis Woods Craig Crew Andrew Woods Robin Allan
A-4K every time.
P3k
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REMEMBERING NO. 487: The descendants of members No. 487 (NZ) Squadron came from all over New Zealand and as far away as Australia for a gathering at our place today.
The light bomber squadron was formed in 1942 and flew Lockheed Ventura and later de Havilland Mosquito aircraft.
During World War Two 123 men from the squadron lost their lives, including 34 New Zealanders. The squadron completed 3,112 sorties before it was disbanded in May 1945.
A number of artefacts from the squadron are part of our collection, including log books and wreckage from a Lockheed Ventura found in Holland after the war and later donated to the museum collection.
As well as talks and a look at the collection the families took time to place poppies on our Roll of Honour, where the lost members of the squadron are remembered.
No. 487 Squadron’s motto was Ki te mutunga – through to the end.
Thank you for your visit!
#rnzaf #487squadron #lockheedventurer #dehavillandmosquito ... See MoreSee Less
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Wonderful people to speak to. A great event.
I would like to have known this was on! My Dad was in 487 before a transfer to 180.
What a wonderful event. Well done to everyone involved in making this happen.
A proud squadron with a proud legacy. Beautiful tribute to their memory.
Awesome my great uncle flew for the 487 squadron. RIP
BZ Enjoy the trip Tony.
RIP 🌹
Pete Croce our sister squadron
Might be Interesting!
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