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
Explore AircraftMore to explore
URGENT CLARIFICATION: We inadvertently caused confusion this week by comparing Justin Bieber with a de Havilland Beaver – which we wanted to clear up before this contagion spreads.
This confusion is understandable of course. Justin Bieber (left) and the de Havilland Beaver (right) both come from Canada, have similar sounding names, are highly successful in their respective fields, and generate a lot of noise.
So today we’d like to apologise and to provide these mugshots of our Canadian superstars, which hopefully will go some way to clear up any remaining confusion.
If, after viewing these pictures, you are still confused, get in touch.
If you'd like to see our de Havilland Beaver we will be happy to point out the differences.
The last thing we'd like to see is crowds flocking to a Justin Bieber concert expecting to see a de Havilland, only to be disappointed.
You’re welcome!
#urgentclarification ... See MoreSee Less
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As an RNZAF vet living in Canada, Yes.
Actually quite easy to tell them apart- whilst working one produces a very clear strong sound - the other doesn’t !
We invite you to our Airplane and Helicopter Marketplace! Buy, sell, and connect with fellow enthusiasts, and explore a selection of aircraft parts and accessories.https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16yLeYFQdX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
BLUNT WARNING: The imminent arrival on our shores of English pop superstar James 'Blunty' Blunt has forced us to reluctantly reissue our previous clarification about the differences between the singer and our beloved BAC Strikemaster Mk.88, also known as Blunty because of its distinctive nose.
We’re concerned that the pair may be easily confused and we would not want fans rolling up to Spark Arena in Auckland expecting to see our Strikemaster, only to find they’ve somehow ended up at a James Blunt concert.
Conversely, we would hate for fans of the singer to arrive at our museum expecting to hear a live version of ‘You’re beautiful’ – only to find themselves staring at the formidable business end of Blunty NZ6373 (which is beautiful by the way).
To head this off, here are our 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 James Blunt’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, though a former soldier, should be unarmed.
3: The Strikemaster has a standard RNZAF camouflage paint scheme, James Blunt wears a variety of guises, mostly beige.
This has been a public service announcement on behalf of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.
Our Blunty is free to view every day from 9.30am until 4.30pm. @jamesblunt will play the Spark Arena on Tuesday 21 October.
#jamesblunt #bluntymcbluntface #bacstrikemaster #timespanner #rnzafpastandpresent ... See MoreSee Less
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Who is suddenly doing your social media? They deserve a massive raise.
Oh come on just invite the bloke over to the museum already.
James Blunt is actually one of the most hilariously self deprecating celebrities I have ever encountered, and his active support of veterans through "Help for Heroes" is to be applauded. Good funny article though - James himself would appreciate it!!
Bloody Loud Useless Non Tactical (B L U NT) or Constant Speed, Variable Sound
That hair would mess with his goggles
I can sleep tonight knowing this, perfect explanation 🤣🤣
*James Blunt has more hair
I know which one I'd rather get my mitts on. No offence to JB.
I have always preferred the noise the one on the left made.
I would fly 500 miles ... oh, wait, sorry, wrong artist 😁
I can understand the confusion. To some the whiny high pitched sounds they both eminate may not be discernible...
Still confused.... both Blunties in the photos appear to be wearing dark green. And both have, well, non-aquiline noses.
I'd rather listen to the Strikemaster at full noise then James Blunt any day 😆
I have been worrying about this for some time, thanks for clearing that up for me.
James Blunt you’d have to admit this is pretty great 👌 with a visit, I reckon 😉
I dunno.... still the resemblance uncanny.
Bernie Hawtin Wilson don't go to the wrong place 🤣
Absolutely brilliant!! 🤣
Love your sm posts, keep it up 🤣
Even by your standards "mostly beige" is brilliant.
my life is brilliant my love is pure
I really hope that James Blunt replies! 😁
Mitchel Honeywill
Heidi Strother
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Antarctican! ... See MoreSee Less
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Comment on Facebook
Thank you Air Force Museum of New Zealand for your incredible understanding of Antarctic aviation and support of our Mission to Space STEM programmes 🇳🇿🇦🇶