What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Birthday Parties
Mission: Best birthday ever
Zip up a flight suit, grab your dog tags, and dive into a fully hosted birthday “mission”. From air & sea adventures for preschoolers to rescue and cadet challenges for older children. Our Programmes team runs the activities, the children get awesome photo moments (and party bags), and you can add catering through our café.
Book a birthday party
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
It is 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Our Victory exhibition, upstairs in the atrium, 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.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
The Mighty Hercules exhibition is on in the Cochrane Gallery upstairs in our atrium. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
Learn More
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.
The charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $20 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
Learn More
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
HOW TO FIRE YOUR TIGER: No, not a human resources video, but a lesson on how to start a De Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth.
As it turns out, the pilot doesn't do a lot - the ground help does all the hard work!
Our volunteer guide and pilot Dave Horrell explains all you need to know.
Dave had a long career in the RNZAF before flying commerical aircraft, and is a specialist biplane pilot.
This follows on from Dave's how to start your Sioux, and how to start your Huey series.
#howtostartatigermotha#startmyplanea#StartMeUp#startmeup ... See MoreSee Less
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URGENT CLARIFICATION: We’ve received an urgent request to clear up any possible confusion between the Ford Raptor and the incredible Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, in light of the incredible sale on Airfiix Raptor models in our store right now.
Cards on the table. We bought too many Raptor models for Warbirds over Wanaka - and sales may have been hurt by the fact the F-22 visit got cancelled.
So to bolster sales, and clear up confusion, we've put together a handy guide to tell your Raptors apart.
The confusion is understandable of course.
As well as sharing a name, the Raptor twins are blessed with sleek good looks, twin exhausts, aggressive styling, stealth and a reputation for getting the job done.
And, to the untrained eye, they’re virtually identical.
Obviously the first, and most noticeable difference, is in the afterburner department.
Lockheed Martin Raptors come fresh from the factory with twin Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning engines and thrust vectoring exhaust nozzles.
The Ford Raptor does come equipped with twin exhaust nozzles, but Ford chose not to give it afterburning capability and the nozzles are in a fixed position.
While we are talking locomotion, the other key difference is under the bonnet, a spot where our twins can be quite easily separated out.
The Lockheed Martin Raptor comes with twin P&W powerplants, producing a combined 70,000 pounds of thrust. With the jandal down, a Lockheed Martin Raptor driver can top out at 2,414 km/h or Mach 2.25. With supercruise control on it could manage Mach 1.35 or a little over 2,000 km/h.
The Ford Raptor, in its top specification, comes with a 3.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine capable of producing up to 400 horsepower – with its top speed limited to 180 km/h.
The final easy-to-spot difference is in manoeuvrability. The Ford Raptor has a turning circle of 12.8 metres – which puts it firmly in the supertanker category, especially with a trailer out back.
By comparison the Lockheed Martin Raptor is renowned for its ability to perform tight turns and vertical pitch 'cobra' manoeuvres that defy conventional limits.
They are unable to tow trailers owing to the absence of a Lockheed towbar.
So, there you have it. Never confuse your Raptors again!
And buy yourself one here: airforcemuseum.co.nz/shop/airfix-quickbuild-f-22-raptor/
#urgentclarification #f22 #ford #warbirdsoverwanaka ... See MoreSee Less
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Just remember folks, with the ford ranger, the first 'R' in ranger is silent, judging by the attitude of thier drivers!!!
The F22 has a smaller turning circle than the Ford 🤣
both likely use the radio call "Smoke On - Go" during public demonstrations ...
Fabulous Team AFMNZ. Always love these "comparison" anecdotes. Thanks for keeping them going.
And when the Lockheed Martin is lauching white things, it's called flares and it's good. When the Ford is launching white smog, it's time for a mechanic!
Daryl Williams 😂
The Ford Ranger Raptor also has a habit of featuring in Dash Cam videos under the caption, 'Ranger Danger"; the F22 Raptor, not so much (although it IS dangerous for different reasons).
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In the early hours of 12 May, 1941, 85 years ago today, three Kiwi aviators lost their lives in the skies over Europe on a raid to Hamburg, Germany.
Sergeant Roderick William Finlayson was the captain of No. 40 Squadron RAF Vickers Wellington R1330/H. His aircraft was shot down over Germany by a night-fighter, with the loss of five lives. He was 24 and on his 27th operation.
Sergeant John David Campbell Long was the rear gunner on a second Wellington from the same squadron, R1461/Z. The Wellington was shot down over the North Sea with the loss of six lives. Sergeant Long was 21.
Sergeant Eric Francis Gannaway was the rear gunner aboard No. 75 (NZ) Squadron Wellington R1589 on the same raid to Hamburg. The aircraft was attacked from the rear by a night-fighter, and Sergeant Gannaway was mortally wounded. He was 21, and on his 10th operation. The remainder of the crew survived.
We've put poppies beside their names to remember them today.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember th#bombercommandm#RNZAFr#weshallrememberthemrthem ... See MoreSee Less
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A debt that can never be repaid. RIP.
Rest in peace lads . Lest we forget .
Yes wanda ian friends
RIP and thank you all Gentlemen 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺. 🌺
🫡🫡🫡🇳🇿
Lest we forget. 🌺
Lest We Forget ⚘️
Salute respect
Rip
RIP lest we forget
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