The Air Force Museum of New Zealand’s C-130H (NZ) Hercules will be feature at a series of public open days from Friday 11 April to Tuesday 15 April.
The Lockheed C-130H wowed Christchurch when a crew from No. 40 Squadron RNZAF landed it on a disused grass runway at Wigram on 19 February and there has been huge interest in the aircraft ever since.
The aircraft – NZ7001 – was the first Hercules the RNZAF purchased in 1965 and at the time it was imagined they would last 15 years. The Hercules served all over the world for 60 years before officially retiring in January this year.
From Antarctica to Afghanistan, and through countless disasters and emergencies at home and overseas, the Hercules has been there to represent New Zealand and offer support.
Museum Director Brett Marshall said the public would be able to see the Hercules and learn its story at the open days which would be accompanied by a new exhibition.
“Because of its size we do not have the space to put the Hercules on permanent display yet, but we are working on plans to build it a forever home and we’ve had great support from the Christchurch City Council to help build an extension.
“We will use the open days to raise money to build the Hercules – and our equally large and significant P-3 Orion, a new exhibition space.’’
More than 9000 people flocked to see the Orion after it arrived last year and the Hercules is likely to be just as popular.
“We’ve timed the open days with the school holidays so we can get as many people along as possible along. We hope everyone gets behind it – there is nothing like seeing this iconic aircraft up close.’’
