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Air Force Museum

New to the Collection

Discover some of the newest additions to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand collection.

Stories of service and sacrifice

Discover stories of service and sacrifice from Kiwis who helped shape New Zealand’s military aviation story.

‘Ripping Yarns’

Among the thousands of objects in our collection are some which have amazing stories behind them – ripping yarns’ even! We share some of these objects and stories in a rotating display within our ‘Horizon to Horizon’ gallery at the Museum, but we’ll also share the latest ones here on our blog.

Piecing together the history of Vildebeest NZ102: Part three

Christmas has come early at the Air Force Museum thanks to a generous loan from an Auckland family. This is an update on the restoration project of our Vickers Vildebeest.

Britannia Rules the Skies

New Zealanders have been deployed around the world with the Air Force for more than 100 years, and many of the sights that they’ve seen along the way are documented in our archives. From mosaics to temples, and a touch of graverobbing, let me take you on a little tour of some historic and archaeological sites that feature in our collection.

We will remember them: interviews with New Zealand’s last wartime aviators

While unable to hold our usual Anzac Day service at the Air Force Museum for Anzac Day 2022, it is a fitting opportunity to share with you some newly-edited interviews with some of the last RNZAF veterans of World War Two: Ron Hermanns, Bryan Cox, Max Collett, Maurice Mayston, and Alan Deere (interview with his nephew Brendon).

‘A few of our favourite things’: celebrating 1 year of our photos online

Since launching in February 2020, our online photo collection has been accessed by thousands of people across the world. These are a few of our team’s favourite photos from the online collection.

Canberra WT346 heads to a new home

We’re really thrilled to share that our Trust Board has signed an agreement, loaning ex-RAF Canberra B(I)8 WT346 to NZ Warbirds Association Inc. at Ardmore for restoration to static display.

Wāhine Toa: Women in Defence: collaborating and curating online

The first collaborative, online exhibition of its kind by New Zealand’s national service museums explores the journeys of women serving in New Zealand’s military since gender integration.

Many a Close Run Thing

An excerpt from the published memoirs of Tom Enright, a veteran New Zealand pilot from Central Otago. Tom joined the RNZAF in 1951, and on graduation, was recommended for a cadetship with the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell, England. His first 20 years flying was in a variety of military aircraft, including Vampires and Sunderlands, and he was a member of the famed RNZAF Vampire aerobatic team. He then spent the next 25 years as an airline pilot. This is an extract from his new book Many A Close Run Thing (Harper Collins NZ).

Opening Hours
Open daily 9.30am to 4.30pm
(except Christmas Day, 25 December)

Entry to the Museum is FREE - but donations are welcome

Location
45 Harvard Ave, Wigram,
Christchurch, New Zealand

Phone: 03 371 9600

Air Force Museum of New Zealand

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