New 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 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. While it was a day to celebrate, there was still a war in the Pacific to fight.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about VE Day with us. The exhibition is on in our upstairs balcony in the atrium.
New 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
New charge for overseas visitors
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
NAME THE AIRCRAFT COMPETITION: Correctly identify all the aircraft in the line up of magnificent beasts at an Ohakea airshow back in 1959 and go into the draw to win an exclusive Air Force Museum of New Zealand mug.
We’re after the manufacturer’s name, and the model for each of the four aircraft on the tarmac.
Write your answers in the comments below or, if you prefer to play your cards close to your chest, you can email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz.
Correct answers will go into the draw and will be selected under RNZAF police supervision.
PS: We will post again when we have a winner, inviting you to contact us. WE WILL NOT CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY! If someone attempts this it is like to be a scam.
Good luck everyone!
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DeHavilland Devon. McDonnell Douglas’s Voodoo. Douglas Destroyer. North American Super Sabre.
F100 Super sabre, B66 destroyer, F101 voodoo
UPLIFTING! We’d like to say a huge ka pai to the Royal Aeronautical Society (New Zealand Division) for donating some uplifting new teaching aids for our Education Officer Chris Davey to use in the classroom.
The machines, made by Graham Christie, demonstrate the Bernoulli principle*, and how lift and drag act on a wing.
More than 5000 students visit our museum each year, and the aids will help demonstrate physics in a practical way.
Royal Aeronautical Society Vice President Phillip Harrall said the teaching aids were party of the society’s next generation aerospace professionals outreach programme – which aimed to encourage young people into the field.
Our relationship with the Royal Aeronautical Society and Graham stretches back as long as we can remember. We can’t thank them enough for supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at our place.
Thanks for your generosity – you’re the wing beneath our wings.
*Chris is happy to explain Bernoulli any time, just call in and ask!
#royalaeronauticalsociety #stem #canterburyaerospace #bernoulliprinciple ... See MoreSee Less
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Awesome 👌 👏
THE REVIEWERS HAVE SPOKEN!!! The Dam Busters may have been made 70 years ago, but its reviews stand the test of time!
The Telegraph says it 'Still hits the target' , while Empire says it is 'Patriotic and spirit-lifting'.
And with a staggering 100% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, and 84% on the Popcornmeter (arguably the most credible ratings of all time) the Dam Busters is not to be missed.
The Dam Busters will be screening FREE tomorrow (Saturday) at 10am at the Air Force Museum - with the added bonus of an introduction from our Collections Manager Darren Hammond.
Darren will explain all about the Kiwi connections to the famous bouncing bomb raid on the Möhne, Eder, and Sorpe dams in Nazi Germany.
Darren started his working career at the RAF Museum in London and has been in the aviation heritage sector for more than 35 years.
His aim is to give the audience insights into the stories behind the controversial raid, as well as the film which immortalised the story.
Curated Cinema: The Dam Busters runs every Saturday and Wednesday at 10am throughout June.
And watch out for Curated Cinema: The Battle of Britain in July.
No need to book and we will have cushions to make you comfy.
This is the 1955 version and contains #bombercommandu#dambustersr#rnzafd #dambusters #rnzaf ... See MoreSee Less
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If you weren't LITERALLY half a world away (and hard to find on maps - it's like your country isn't even on some of them!!) I'd be there with bells on.
where exactly is the Curated theatre?
There's a scene where the crews are waiting to go on Ops. They're sitting playing cards and playing cricket, occupying themselves. The whole scene is done in one take, up to the point where the vehicles arrive to take them to the dispersals. I find it very moving, it brings to mind not only 617, but all of the crews who must have sat about like that waiting, just waiting.
Fond of the movie, and meeting Les Munro (last living pilot) was a lovely experience as he spoke of his time on the raid, when he was in Christchurch. R.I.P. Les 🇳🇿
Won't be shown in US. There is a forbidden word in it! PC Patrol will go berserk!
Whatever happened to Peter Jackson's remake?
A real hero. RIP both brave men.
Still has one of my favourite lines from a movie “this is bloody dangerous “!
Len Deighton's 'Bomber' is one of my favorite novels.
Part of my Dambuster presentation showing where all the 133 aircrew that took part in Operation Chastise came from. pleszak.blog
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SAFE TRAVELS OLD FRIEND! Nice footage of an incredible aircraft that gave extraordinary service over six decades to the RNZAF. Go well. ... See MoreSee Less
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Did she fly into Woodbourne on Monday by any chance?