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.
Learn More
#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.
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.
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.
Learn More
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
YOUNG GUNS: We are delighted to be hosting the 2025 WorldSkills New Zealand Aircraft Maintenance National Finals today and tomorrow.
There are nine young competitors from around Aotearoa New Zealand going head-to-head in a competition which will test all their aircraft engineering skills – while the judges watch on.
They’re the future of aviation engineering in New Zealand – so come along and cheer them on!
You'll be able to watch them as they work through each modeul in the round-robin competition.
The competition is on from 9.30am until 4.30pm Friday and Saturday.
FREE entry!
The finalists are: Joshua Kuriger RNZAF; Ashley Sturgess Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology; Ethan Hedge, Air New Zealand; Jack Elvy, Air New Zealand; Kaleb Bentham, Air New Zealand; Liam Henderson, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology; Michael La Rooy, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology; Tim Duncan, self-employed and William Swarbrick, Air New Zealand.
#serviceIQ #NZDF #WorldSkills #rnzaf #nzdf ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Out of interest what were the skills tests they had to perform?
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
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
URGENT CLARIFICATION: It has come to our attention that there is a degree of ongoing confusion between the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Dassault Mirage, which we’d like to clear up before the trickle turns into a torrent.
The confusion is entirely understandable of course. The Mitsubishi Mirage was a huge favourite on New Zealand roads throughout the 1970s and 1980s, about the same time as the Dassault Mirage IIIs of the Royal Australian Air Force were streaking over the Tasman to delight Kiwi airshow crowds.
As well as sharing a name, they’re both beautiful, sleek, balanced but practically designed machines that have a ‘ooh la la’ look about them.
They were also popular with operators and performed well over long careers. Disconcertingly, to the naked eye, they’re almost impossible to tell apart.
But there are a few telltale differences which more experienced eyes will spot, and we’ve prepared a handy guide to allow you tell your Mirages apart in the car park.
Firstly, and you will kick yourself when it is pointed out, the Mitsubishi Mirage can be distinguished by its handy lift-up boot configuration for shopping, which the Dassault Mirage lacked.
This made the Mitsubishi extremely popular as a town runabout but may have dented the Dassault’s sales with shoppers.
The second big difference is found under the bonnet. The Dassault Mirage was powered by a SNECMA ATAR 9C turbojet with afterburner which gave it a top speed of 2,350 km/h or Mach 2.2, more than enough for a speeding ticket.
The Mitsubishi Mirage had a conventional inline four-cylinder engine with a choice of 1.2, 1.4 or 1.6 litre variants and a top speed, depending on the model, of 145 km/h or Mach 0.12. Disappointingly, none came with an afterburner option although there was a cool-looking turbo version along the way.
Finally, if you are still confused, simply have a look on the side of your Mirages for the telltale ejection seat warning triangle sign.
Dassault Mirage IIIs were fitted with Martin-Baker Mk.4 ejector seats, but Mitsubishi decided against fitting this all-important safety option.
So there you have it.
Never confuse your Mirages again!
#urgentclarification #raaf ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
My dear old mother had one until I parked it in a gully. On it's roof 🙃 *it didn't fly very well at all
My great aunt had one. That economy / power shift was something else!! Like we were actually in a X-Wing Starfighter!
I bet the Dassault didn't have two gear sticks. #supershift 😅😄
I loved my mirage with the power/economy shift so you could drive it with 8 gears 🤣
Like the Hawker Hunter is easily confused with the Hillman Hunter.
Mum used to take us to school in the four door version in this exact colour 🤣. This was the early 90s so it was a bit old by then. Was a good car.
My first car was a 1982 Mirage with the super shift gear, had great road holding and cornering, neither of which the Dassault needs I guess. It also had great traction on the mountain when we were skiing, but that's no competition for after burners that could just melt it all away 😂
Both Mirages lack the firepower of the Ford Pinto.
Its also important to point out the Dassault Mirage also lacked side mirrors, which also would have turned potential shoppers off getting one.
I had the same confusion when telling people my then boyfriend had a spitfire.
You’re social media person needs a raise 😂😂
My sister had o e with a POWER SHIFTER in it. Car that is, she doesn't have a pilots licence.
Mach 0.12!
I had one of those once. Not saying which one.
Further clarification neither of these exist they are in fact a mirage
Although, when I blew the engine in my 1980 Mitzi Mirage, it did kind of look like I turned on an afterburner, which would’ve been a cool option for both, except that my speed went from 100 kph to about 30 in two seconds! Also, the “power’ (not power) gear was very handy in Dunedin at the time, made going up those hills a breeze in second gear!
I think the Dassault had more in common with the Reliant Robin - both only had three wheels.
I can't see anything. Are you sure there is something in the pictures?
Imagine if someone put the wrong engine in the Mitzi, and it became powered with a French Mirage engine. Performance issues with the Mitzi solved instantly!😂
Had a super shift Mirage turbo. Fun in a straight line when the turbo kicked in, but couldn't handle to save itself on corners.
Another critical clarification in the canon of aircraft/motor vehicle literature. My Mirage had a "power" gear - anyone's guess as to what it actually did but it definitely wasn't power 🫠
To whomever compiles these essential posts, you are a genius!
If you can check the oil level without the use of a mirror on a stick and a full set of special hex wrenches, it's the Mitsubishi. Both leaked oil though. That won't help you.
One of my old neighbours had a Mirage. They had a long driveway too. I'll let you figure out which Mirage she had. :P
View more comments
VOTE SPITFIRE! Voulnteer guide Eugene fell in love with the mighty Supermarine Spitfire when he was a youngster (just the other day) and is urging you to support it in our 2025 Aircraft of the Year competition.
Have your say at: airforcemuseum.co.nz/aircraft-of-the-year/
#aircraftoftheyear2025 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I can see a beautiful Vauxhall Velox in the background the same as my parents had in the early 50s. Beyond that is my nomination for the aircraft of the year, the beautiful Dakota or DC3.