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.
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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
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.
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Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
STARTING YOUNG: The road to becoming a C-130 Hercules Loadmaster can be long and winding, so there's no harm in starting them young.
Sophie Hall thinks so. Sophie and her four-week-old trainee loadie son were in this week, getting their flying hours in on our DropZone game.
The youngster's name is still the subject of a family debate, we've suggested Hercules or Charles fit the bill.
Thanks for fl#dropzone u#FreeGamez#freethingstodoinchristchurchoinchristchurch ... See MoreSee Less
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I’m guessing “Fat Albert” won’t be considered? 😂
FORGET TAYLOR AND TRAVIS: We’ve got a better love story – Linda and Ian!
Picture the scene. It is 1965, and Linda Maurice and Ian Hutchison are both serving in the RNZAF and are at Wigram for a rugby match.
Linda trained as a librarian and was soon to be promoted to a section officer.
Ian was an avionics fitter. As a catch he was second-to-none because he owned a flash Austin 1100 – with twin wing mirrors.
He spied Linda across the field, and then a mutual friend called Ray introduced them, and it’s a love story – so baby just say yes!*
They fell in love, kept dating and by 1968 Ian was working at Woodbourne and Linda had been posted to Wellington – and was commuting across on the ferry at the weekend to see him.
It was at this point fate stepped in, and Linda says was told she had to choose between Ian and her career in the RNZAF.
“I chose Ian,’’ she laughs – while Ian adds “… and you probably made the wrong choice’’.
Now, 56 years, two daughters and six grandchildren later, Linda says she has no regrets.
Ian stayed in the RNZAF another three years – working on Skyhawks primarily at Ohakea – until 1971.
His experience set him up well for a career in instrumentation in the dairy industry.
Thank you both for your service, for telling your story, and for visiting our museum.
*Apologies to Taylor Swift. And to Swifties.
#lovestory #freethingstodoinchristchurch #swifties #taylorswift ... See MoreSee Less
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🎶It's a love story...
Uncle Clive Maurice always was so proud of your achievements as a woman in the Airforce back then Linda, and, along with Aunty Colleen, thought an awful lot of you and Ian.
Ian Hutchison and I trained together on Instrument Fitters No17 course. Would love to catch up with him.
What a wonderful story 😘
Cute photos Linda and Ian! 💗
well done team hutchison 💓💓
Good old fashion love, can't beat it ❤️
Now that's a good story 👌 I feel sorry for anybody that thinks T&T is worth a thought.
Cool story but 😭 that they made her choose.
Nice story. All the best
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BETTER THAN SOCKS! Attention last minute Father's Day shoppers! Delight dad with the chance to sit inside our Sioux - along with our Wasp and Iroquois - at our Open Cockpit Helicopter Frenzy this weekend, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September.
Book here: airforcemuseum.co.nz/events/fathers-day-special-helicopter-frenzy/ ... See MoreSee Less
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I remember seeing one of these Whirlybirds hovering above Northland's 90 mile beach as a kid heading to Spirits Bay with family we drove underneath it.