What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
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.
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Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
CATALINA CHILD: Meet Robyn Hughes (nee Meynell), who lived on base here at Wigram a very short 85 years ago.
Robyn’s dad was Ronald Meynell (pictured working on an Avro 504 at Wigram), who joined what was then the Permanent Air Force as a boy entrant in 1924.
“He was one of three boy entrants in his year, and his air force number was 13, but they called him 12a because they were superstitious,’’ Robyn says.
Ronald was an engineer, and went on to become a Squadron Leader, serving in the Pacific. He was awarded the MBE in 1944 in recognition of his conspicuous service in operations against the Japanese while serving on No. 9 Squadron in New Caledonia and Espiritu Santo, now Vanuatu.
Robyn was born the year the RNZAF was formed in 1937 and lived at Wigram as a three-year-old. The family also lived at Whenuapai, Rukuhia, Bulls (Ohakea) and later Lauthala Bay in Fiji.
“Lauthala Bay was wonderful and I remember the Catalinas very well. It was a lovely life when I look back – we felt very spoiled and looked after well as air force children.’’
Robyn recalls the cyclone of 1952, and the loss of the MV Joyita, an island ferry which went missing in 1955 and was eventually discovered with no sign of its 25 passengers and crew. Among the missing was the family’s neighbour, Dr Andy Parsons.
Thanks for visiting your museum, Robyn!
#rnzaf #lauthalabay ... See MoreSee Less
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WHAT THE HERC WILL I BUY FOR CHRISTMAS? If you're after something special for Chrimbo don't forget about our Aircraft of the Year Calendar* featuring the mighty Lockheed C-130H Hercules.
Cover boy and Mr December is the mighty C-130H Hercules, which won the coveted cover spot after hoovering up the most votes in our Aircraft of the Year competition.
The calendar also includes some rare photos from our collection which our Keeper Of Photographs has kindly digitised just in time for Christmas.
So don't hesitate - click to order at airforcemuseum.co.nz/shop/aircraft-of-the-year-calendar-2026/
*It is a Gregorian calendar (an improvement on the Julian) with 12 months and 365 days and includes a handy one-year-at-a glance page for the planners and forward thinker#aircraftoftheyear2025f#christmascalendarr#christmas2025 #christmasgiftideas2025asgiftideas2025 ... See MoreSee Less
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ALLISONS!! We've had a direct message from a fan of our work which we wanted to share. He raises some interesting points!
Dear Sirs. We desperately need more of your well-informed, balanced journalism and cultural sensitivity in the world. I was appalled when listening to BBC Radio2 the other day and a record by Elvis Costello called "Alison" was played. (Obviously, I couldn't hear it only had on "l" on the radio.)
Imagine my horror when no mention was made of the wonderful C130s to which Alison (yes I know there are 2 ll's) T56 engines are attached.
Your sincerely, a Northern Hemishere fan.
Just to rebalance the scales of justice here's some Allison T56s at full noise for your viewing and listening pleasure. Filmed on 19 February at Wigram, the final ever landing of an RNZAF C-130H. Also known as Charles.
It was good of Elvis Costello to write a song about them!
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Always got us home safe and sound🙌🙌
My first safe ride home after a Bristol freighter was a no go Got me home from south Island to whenuiapi and by road back to hobsonville the worst cyclonic conditions lightning wind and dozens of drop pockets the load master threw up and also did ski diving till we got all gear straped down I was 13 ATC And sars trained Many soles brought home by this gracious Bird
The Allison V-1710 sounds a lot better than the T56 and Elvis Costello combined.
Just watching this obviously the runway we spent a million dollars before closure obviously ripped up. Strange to think I was there at closure. Good to see the C130 land spent many hours flying in them
The landing the was said couldn't be down and was proven it could be done in an epic way
0:50 Rabbits?
Alison by Elvis Costello is a classic, as is the C130
But....their aim is true...
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